Humans aren’t the fastest species on planet Earth. Or are they? According to scientific research and practical examples, four-legged species are significantly faster than normal humans in short stints. It’s crucial to emphasize that cheetahs, along with other animals like horses, can outpace humans in a brief sprint.

However, if a scenario changes, can a human beat a majestic beast like a horse? Or how about eight horses? That’s a number that was achieved by this Lebanese-American person who ran an ultramarathon and secured a massive victory over this animal, showcasing the potential of human limits.

Runner raising bars of human capabilities

So who’s this human who has achieved something so fascinating? Nicole Teeny is a 38-year-old runner who has been into the sport since she was in elementary school while growing up in Tacoma, Washington. However, her interest in the activity increased after she read the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. In the same book, she found herself captivated by a particular chapter that discussed paleoanthropologist Daniel Lieberman’s “Endurance Running Hypothesis” theory.

So what’s this theory about? According to Lieberman, these four-legged creatures aren’t the fastest ones over a long-distance course and can be easily outrun by a human. Immediately after reading this, as per Runner’s World on Instagram, Teeny recalled, stating, “After reading that, I was like, wow, could I beat a horse? It became a pie in the sky dream for me.” So soon after getting this thought, she was ready to take on the challenge of beating these majestic creatures, but life had something else in store for her. Unfortunately, Teeny had her first seizure and ended up in the hospital. At the age of 32, she acquired her epilepsy diagnosis after a second seizure six months later.

“One day, I was sitting on the couch, and the next second, I was in an ambulance. When these things that are so absurd happen to you, it makes you reconsider the rules of the universe… There are things that can truly happen out of nowhere, and if anything can happen, then anything can happen,” stated the owner of Teeny Motion Pictures. However, she stood out against the challenges of life, still determined to catch up on her ambitions. Eventually, after looking out for opportunities to run in one of such races, she was accepted by Ride Like The Wind, a 50-mile endurance ride around Big Hill Lake in Cherryvale, Kansas.

Teeny faced challenges immediately after the race began due to her slower acceleration compared to the horses. However, the pace was there, as she found herself moving up the ladder the moment the horses started to take mandatory vet checks and safety breaks. Keeping her motivation high, Teeny kept running and never looked back. Eventually, she crossed the finish line and, to her surprise, was informed that she had finished ahead of eight horses! Surely, she didn’t win the race, but still, it was a significant achievement in her life, as she finally was able to beat a horse as a human. 

“I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so strong, so powerful. It was one of the most joyous events of my life where I just felt very content and content in my body,” stated the 38-year-old unveiling her experience of accomplishing her ambition. Despite facing life’s challenges, Teeny achieved her goals with determination rather than ease. And when her story went viral on the internet, social media users had nothing but appreciation for her.

Becoming a star among the public

Watching people like Nicole Teeny inspires a ton out there. The determination she carried in herself made her focus on her ambitions, and her mindset was just on another level. As her story went viral on social media, this inspired many, as one fan stated, “What an incredible accomplishment.” Another fan had a similar reaction, stating, “She’s awesome and an inspiration!” Similarly, another social media user stated, “What an inspiring experience!”

Despite all the motivation she had, Teeny never shied away from revealing the dark clouds that loomed upon her. Since she had experienced seizures, she knew how terrifying the condition could be. However, the filmmaker compared her seizures to a stampede of wild horses, and in this process, she found the motivation required to confront the diagnosis. She always wanted to find a way to beat these majestic animals, which she eventually achieved in the long run.

Furthermore, many were just captivated by Teeny’s journey to success, stating, “Oh .. wow … I love this story.” Another fan stated, “This is just so so cool. 👏 you rock.”

Teeny’s ambitions were on top of a mountain, as it did seem to be when she first started dreaming of beating horses in a long-distance race. Indeed, she encountered her share of life’s challenges as she pursued her destiny, yet she remained steadfast in her ambitions. With pure determination and a strong mindset, she was able to achieve the unprecedented and would be motivating many more in the future.