Pippa Middleton Finishes 56-Mile Ski Marathon for Charity
Pippa Middleton completed the 88th annual Vasaloppet, a 56-mile cross-country ski marathon Sunday, to benefit Magic Breakfast.
The charitable sister of the Duchess of Cambridge- formerly Kate Middleton- finished the race in an impressive seven hours, 13 minutes, and 36 seconds.
Middleton's brother James also completed the charitable race, finishing after six hours, 47 minutes, 27 seconds.
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The charity, Magic Breakfast, delivers free and healthy breakfast foods to primary school children in the U.K.
Over 15,800 cross-country skiers participated in Vasaloppet, but Middleton finished in 412th place in the women's category.
The 28-year-old told Swedish SVT that she had only trained for the race for "a couple of weekends," and admitted it was exhausting.
The competition is one of the world's oldest cross-country races and takes place between the villages of Salen and Mora, around 200 miles northwest of Stockholm. The winner finished in three hours, 38 minutes, 41 seconds.
To take part in the race, competitors must reach certain checkpoints at specific times and the International Ski Federation (FIS) competition rules apply.
Middleton's participation created a media frenzy, as she remains one of the most highly covered people in the U.K. media- often covered more in some foreign countries than the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duchess of Cambridge's sister and brother were confirmed to be participating in Vasaloppet earlier this year via the competition's Information Manager.
"We have been contacted by a person close to them who has asked us if we could arrange this," explained Per Strid of the cross-country skiing event.
Vasaloppet 2012 had been booked since May 30, 2011, but the organization made room for the famous relatives of the Royal Family.
"It's really fantastic that such well known people will take part; it shoes that our arrangements attract not only the most renowned skiers in the world but also some of the most famous personalities in the world as well," added Strid. "Everyone does it because it's a challenge and achievement to ski Vasaloppet."
