Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom – On Saturday 16th January at noon, 35 year old former Green Jacket soldier, Mike Buss ran into the World Record books by smashing the 468 mile record for furthest distance on a treadmill in 7 days by one man, set last year by ex-soldier, Lee Chamberlain. Watched by 400 people at the Brunel Shopping Centre, Swindon, Mike crossed the finish line at a respectable 10.5 kilometres an hour looking tired, but not exhausted. Generous Swindon shoppers helped Mike raise £7,045 for Help for Heroes, the charity supporting injured British military personnel.
During this 7 day endurance feat, Mike Buss got about 28 hours sleep overall. He ran for nearly 140hrs and lost 4.3 kilos weight (9.5 lbs) by burning a total of 77,000 kcals (an average 11,000 kcals daily). Deep tissue sports massage kept his legs in good condition and he fuelled his body with a nutritious full English breakfast, ISO food supplements and healthy snacks. Pacing himself at an average 3.7 miles an hour, he broke the distance down into 3 or 4 mile chunks.
Night runs were signed off by 2 witnesses for the record books and 29 Regt Royal Logistics Corps from Gloucestershire kept him company 24 hours a day. Lt. Col Bethan Targett saw him set the new world record on Saturday. She comments ‘They say that Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing but to turn it into glory, and Mike epitomises that with the extraordinary lengths he is going to in order to raise money for Help for Heroes. If the difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot coal, then how on earth do you define what Mike has achieved? We are immensely proud to have a regimental connection with him and to see him break this latest World Record. We will be there to cheer him on at his next venture.’
When asked how it felt to complete his mission Mike said ‘Amazing! Very relieved it’s all over! The crowd at the finish was out of this world. They really spurred me on for the final sprint! I loved every minute of the run and all the support made it so worthwhile. Getting off the treadmill means I can go home and get a good night’s sleep in a proper bed! The first thing I want to do is have a bath! Then a proper meal and I’ll put my sore feet up and chill out on the sofa watching TV.’
Apparently, the worst thing about the run was the silence of an empty shopping mall in the early hours of the morning! Mike says ‘It would have got really depressing if it wasn’t for round the clock support from 29Rgt RLC. They kept sending me fresh faces to talk to, to keep me awake. The lack of sleep was very hard, only having 2hrs a night.’
The mental and emotional challenge of such strenuous physical activity takes its toll. When asked what kept him going Mike replied ‘I kept thinking of the guys and girls that benefit from the fundraising. When world record holder Lee Chamberlain came down to support me breaking his record, it was such a morale booster. It even made me run faster! Matt Croucher (George Cross and author of Bullet Proof) came down for the finish, which was the icing on the cake! Having a soldier of such high calibre supporting me really helped. But it’s the people of Swindon coming up, saying hello and putting donations in the tins – That has been a massive encouragement all the way through. I’m thrilled we raised over £7,000!’
Medically discharged from the army after an IRA bomb deafened him in one ear, Mike found it hard to adjust to civilian life and became homeless. Whilst living on the streets in London he was inspired by Paddy Doyle, a former parachute regiment member who gained the accolade of ‘Fittest Man in the World’. Mike decided to get his life together and at the same time raise money for fellow servicemen. Since September 2009 he has raised £11,500 for Help for Heroes by breaking four world records.
Mike’s new World Record made the news in nine countries so far and he wishes to extend special thanks to his fiancée Kirsty, his support team and 29RGT RLC ‘whose support was amazing and I couldn’t have done it without them. Also thanks to Brunel Shopping Centre Management for allowing me to run the event here and to all our sponsors.’ He closes with ‘It’s been a team effort. Nobody realises what goes on behind the scenes to put an event like this together. On behalf of all service personnel I would really like to thank the very generous people of Swindon for their support too.’ You can still donate. Go to www.justgiving.com/mikes-worldrecords
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Next world record attempts
6th Feb 2010: The fastest run along the North Downs whilst carrying a 40lbs Pack
20th/21st Feb 2010: 5 world fitness records in just one weekend at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village in Swindon. Attempts to beat the
• Multi-Stage Fitness Test carrying 40lbs pack, 60lbs pack and 120lbs pack.
• Same test in full Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare suit and 40lbs pack.
• The most step-ups whilst carrying a 100lbs pack.
During April Mike plans to run the Brighton Marathon, and will then run on to London in time to take part in the London Marathon!
John Saunders – for jpegs of the event
J S Photography
Tel: +44 (0) 7740 120536
Email: john@jsphotography.info
Editor’s note
LOCATION –
SWINDON is only six miles from WOOTTON BASSETT, the market town famed worldwide for the respectful way in which residents and visitors support mourning families of dead soldiers being repatriated from Afghanistan through RAF Lyneham.
Athlete’s Task Ahead
Endurance athlete Mike Buss has now beaten four world records since September 2009 and raised £11,000. He supports Help for Heroes because when he was medically discharged from the army ten years ago when an IRA bomb caused deafness in one ear. At that time, the support for injured military personnel wasn’t particularly good. He values highly the work of the Help for Heroes charity so he is on a mission to:
• Break 20 world endurance records in just 12 months (a feat that has never been achieved before).
• Raise £100,000 by the end of 2010 and just over £1,000,000 by 2014.
• Take on many of the world’s toughest challenges including the ‘Marathon Des Sables’ across the Sahara desert in 2011.
• Finish a world record breaking 5 yr campaign by climbing Mount Everest in 2014.
Key sponsors including Jeep, Saucony, Berghaus, Cliff Bar, ISO2 Nutrition.
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