At midday on the 16th October ultra runner Mimi Anderson will be starting what is possibly the most challenging event to date in her impressive career.
She will be attempting to break the World Record for “The greatest Distance covered on a Treadmill by a female in 7 days”.
The event is taking place in the food hall of the Ashford Designer Outlet (www.ashforddesigneroutlet.com).
The current female World Record stands at 395.25 miles (636.09km) held by a lady in Germany. Mimi's plan is to run for 20 hours a day, sleeping for 2 which leaves 2 hours to have loo breaks etc.
Should Mimi be able to break the record with time to spare, she will then continue and go for the male record which is held by Mike Buss and stands at 517.25 miles (832.43km)!
Of the challenge Mimi says: "I can hear you asking the question “why?”. The answer is quite simple – for me running is about different challenges, seeing how far I can push myself, what are the limits that the human body can go to? This challenge isn’t just about the distance, it’s also about the boredom factor of running for hours and hours on a machine and never getting anywhere, sleep deprivation and exhaustion!"
Mike Buss and Phillip Howell, together with various other friends will form the team that will be looking after Mimi for the 7 days. Mimi is also appealing to as many friends and fans as possible to come and support her at the Ashford Designer Outlet between the 16th and 23rd October- she will need entertainment!
For a World Record Attempt strict guidelines set out by the GWR have to be followed. This means having an official starter and finisher, the event has to be filmed, photographs taken and forms signed by the public to prove that Mimi has done the distance. Damian Green MP has very kindly agreed to start the event off and David Castle and Sarah Russell of Running Fitness Magazine will be there to see her finish. StarTrac have kindly loaned two calibrated treadmills for the event.
You can follow Mimi's progress via her website www.marvellousmimi.com and also on Facebook and Twitter.
