Yahoo Finance Runners attempting Guinness World Record for running London Marathon in handcuffs
From dressing as a DNA double helix to wearing a pop-up tent, there's no limit to the endless creativity exhibited by inventive marathon runners looking to set a Guinness World Record and raise some vital funds for charity at the same time.
For this year's London Marathon, scheduled on Sunday 3 October, two runners from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk will attempt to break the existing record – incredibly, this one's been done before – for running the fastest marathon while handcuffed at the wrists.
To claim the title, Kerry Bullen, 48, and Troi Baxter, 26, will need to run the 26.2-mile race in less than 4 hours 30 minutes. While this isn't their first marathon by a long shot – Bullen's marathon PB is 3 hours 36 minutes; Baxter's is 3 hours 29 minutes – navigating the course in handcuffs adds a whole new dimension.
'We're regular runners, but this latest challenge will be something completely different,' says Bullen. 'Our legs will be in sync but we're struggling to work out a way to move our arms. However, we've managed a half marathon in handcuffs in 1 hour 45 minutes so we're optimistic.'
After winning places in the Virgin Money London Marathon ballot, the duo decided to tackle the Guinness World Record attempt to raise funds for Tom's Trust, a children's brain tumour charity founded for Tom Whiteley, who died at the age of nine from a brain tumour.
Through the six major marathons they've planned for 2021 – including Chicago just a week after the London Marathon – the pair hope to raise £5,000 for the Cambridge-based charity.
It's a cause that's close to Bullen's heart, since her children – Olivia, 17, Alex, 15, and Ben, 12 – went to school with Tom. 'I'll never forget the devastating letter we got from the headteacher when we learned Tom had died,' she said. 'I had children the same age and I've been motivated to help the charity ever since.
'We wanted to do something that would on some level represent the struggles these children go through to recover from a brain tumour. Out of those who survive, the majority have lifelong disabilities as a result that need ongoing support. We wanted to do something big to draw attention to the charity and the help it gives these children and their families.'
To donate to their fundraising page, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marathonhandcuffed
You Might Also Like
