What do you think of when you think of a marathon? Do you think of something like the Ironman, where thousands of hopeful athletes go to achieve their dreams and prove something to themselves in an all-out run for glory?
Or does the idea of a marathon make you sick to your stomach just thinking about it? Maybe you'd rather sit on your couch and have your own kind of marathon-watching 24 for 24 hours while stuffing your face with Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
Even if you're a couch potato, the sheer thought of what a marathon is boggles the mind. It is 26. 2 miles of hell that pushes the limit of a human's body.
For some people, that gives them an adrenaline rush. We're obsessed with going farther than anybody else, doing it faster, breaking records of speed or distance.
Going farther or faster than anybody else in the world seems to be stuck in the minds of the people of the world. Just think of Forrest Gump; his little cross-country trot from coast to coast exceeded anybody's expectations of what could be done by one person.
Gump's run might have been just one record broken, but there have countless world records broken in the world of running. But what you might not know is that there have also been world records broken in the world of tread milling.
Yes, that contraption you have to get on every time summer is getting close or every time you want to look good in a bikini. There have been people that have pushed the limits on the treadmill, either for fun or to prove to themselves that they were the best of the best.
Let's take a look at some of the world records that have been broken on treadmills. You might be surprised at what has been done on this seemingly simple machine!
Most miles run in one week- This feat is held by a man named Mike Buss- a 35-year old retired Army instructor from the UK. In just seven days, he ran over 500 miles, shattering the previous record of 468 miles ran in one week, which was held by a fellow ex-soldier.
What makes it even more amazing is that Mike ran the equivalent of three marathons a day! He did all this with only about two hours of sleep a day and brief breaks for food and rest.
Fastest 50 km run- Our next destination is Perth, Australia, where a 33-year old named Stephen Courtney ran 50 km on a treadmill in 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 19 seconds. That beat the old record by only a minute.
The Australian was used to running marathons and even ran an "ultra" marathon in South Africa, but apparently the record was one of the toughest feats he ever had to accomplish.
48 hour run- This deals with the longest distance ever run on a treadmill in 48 hours. This record is held by an Irish man named Tony Mangan.
In those two days, he was able to run over 405 kilometers, or about 252 miles. Because he is what some call an "ultra" runner, he has broken several other records as well.
24 Hour Run- This one was broken by a New Yorker. Christopher Bergland, an Ironman triathlon athlete broke the record for the longest distance run in a 24 hour period. He ran 153.76 miles on April 30, 2004.
There are so many other records too numerous to count that have been broken. What is amazing is that these athletes have kept their cool and remain focused even after remaining in the same spot for an extended period of time. Focus like that takes dedication.
While they broke their records, these runners had family, friends, and onlookers cheering them on and encouraging them. This helped them in their toughest times, when it seemed like their bodies would shut down and not go on anymore.
Check out some of the other world records that have been smashed by amazing runners on treadmills. You might even be motivated to start training and smash one yourself!
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a personal trainer and has authored hundreds of articles relating to physical training and fitness exercise equipment. He has been a health expert and physical trainer for over 15 years.
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