GB ultrarunner and women’s rights advocate Sophie Power will this weekend attempt an extraordinary Guinness World Record – the greatest distance ever run on a treadmill in 48 hours.
She is already a world record holder having set a new mark for the fastest time running the length of Ireland last year, completing the 558km (347-mile) journey in just 84 hours.
But this new challenge – which will take place during the National Running Show at the NEC Birmingham – will see her target the current female best of 340.36 kilometres (211.52 miles).
A daunting physical – and mental – challenge
Her attempt will begin during the show’s build-up at 2:30pm on Friday, 24 January, and continue non-stop until 2:30pm on Sunday, 26 January.
Over the 48-hour period, Sophie will push her limits, taking only brief breaks to use the toilet and sleeping minimally.
The attempt will be meticulously documented, with footage and evidence submitted to Guinness World Records for official ratification.
Visitors to the National Running Show will also have the opportunity to join her on the treadmill alongside to offer encouragement and support.
And in a collaboration that blends science and sport, students from Liverpool John Moores University, led by Dr Jamie Pugh, will monitor Sophie’s physiological responses to the extreme challenge, providing insights into how her physiology changes throughout the course of the run.
Breaking down barriers for women
Power first gained international recognition in 2018, when a photograph of her breastfeeding her three-month-old son during the iconic Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) went viral. Since then, she has become a leading voice for women in endurance sports, founding SheRACES to advocate for gender equality and inspire more women to take part in competitive events.
Speaking about her upcoming attempt, Sophie said: “I can’t quite believe I’ll be attempting this World Record live at the National Running Show! I’m very nervous but I know that the support will be incredible.
“I’m raising money for SheRACES so we can break down barriers to women in sport. With this attempt I’m hoping to inspire other women to take on their own running challenge – whether that’s couch to 5k or their first ultra.”
And asked why the treadmill challenge is her next project in a chat on the National Running Show’s Facebook Live, she explained: “I saw what [running the length of] Ireland did to so many women and girls. I was running through these towns and the whole school was out, with schoolkids chanting my name and I get emotional every time I think about it. Really changing what people, especially the girls, believe they can do.
“But how do you bring that to more people? And I think seeing someone suffering on the treadmill, but still keep going, will make people consider when something gets a bit tough that you can do it – whether that’s couch to 5k or whatever.
“And to break the record would be so lovely but what can we do that’s more than that? So we’ve got a load of science going on at the same time, trying to understand a lot more about female physiology in endurance events. So I’m going to have an oxygen mask over me every hour and a glucose monitor and so on, just to see what we can learn.”
She has already made a huge difference in the running sphere and now herself and Bianca Fernandez, co-founder of Fund Her Tri, are aiming to make a similar impact in triathlon. Read more about that here.
The National Running Show will also feature Barkley Marathons history-maker Jasmin Paris MBE as one of the speakers.
