Ultra runner sets new world record
Ultra runner Susie Chan set a new world record by running in a treadmill for 12 hours. The 40 year old, ran a total distance of 68.54 miles (110.3km) in the human performance laboratory at the Kingston University’s Penrhyn Road campus — beating the previous women’s record for the same time period of 66.79 miles.
The record attempt was supervised by senior lecturer in health, exercise and physiology Dr Hannah Moir and sport scientist Chris Howe, along with a team of 10 sport science and nutrition students acting as timekeepers and witnesses.
The athlete’s links with the University came about after she participated in a research study being conducted by Mr Howe examining the physical and psychological effects of endurance running on those who take part in such events. Ultra endurance running — generally classed as any distance over the traditional marathon — has become increasingly popular during the past few years, with a large rise in the number of races and events. “Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we’re now looking at the factors that make an ultra-distance runner, how their bodies adapt over time and what pushes them to do it,” Mr Howe said.
Chan beat the previous unofficial 12-hour women’s record, of 66.79 miles (107.49km) set by Kristina Paltén on 7 February 2013, as well as the current official Guinness World Records holder Dee Boland, who set a distance of 60.26 miles (96.98km) in October last year. Chan’s distance of 68.54 miles will remain an unofficial record until she receives verification from Guinness World Records.
The ultra runner is the latest in a long list of top-achieving athletes to have made use of the high performance facilities and academic expertise available at Kingston University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing. Last year, the University provided heat acclimation support to almost 25 athletes training to compete in the Marathon des Sables, including explorer and adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The annual footrace, which Chan herself has completed twice, sees those taking part run a total of six marathons over six days in the Sahara Desert, enduring temperatures of up to 50°C.
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