A MEMBER of staff at the University of Worcester will be attempting to break the world record for the fastest London Marathon time dressed as a lumberjack.
Chris Garratt, Deputy Chief Information Officer, said he was looking for a fun way to raise money for the University’s Charity of the Year, while challenging himself.
“There are a number of fastest London Marathon records and I was looking through for a target that was realistic for me and came across the lumberjack one,” said the father-of-two from Kempsey.
“What I hadn’t appreciated though is that in order to break it, I have to run in lace up boots and carrying an axe – fake of course!”
Chris, 47, is now training hard with the help of the University’s Sports Therapy and Sports Science teams, who are providing nutritional guidance and help training in heavy work boots.
“The team have been amazing,” he said. “Apparently I will lose around 6-8 litres of fluid in the race, so they are helping me to manage my intake.”
Chris said he had to send off photos of his lumberjack outfit to the team at Guinness World Records for them to approve it and he will be monitored on the day throughout the marathon, which takes place on Sunday, April 23.
“I am getting out training in my kit to prepare myself,” he said. “So people may see me running around Worcester in walking boots and a lumberjack shirt. I’m also growing a beard to get in the full spirit.”
Chris, who took part in the virtual London Marathon last year and also completed 50 miles in 12 hours during lockdown, by running 2,500 laps of his house, to raise money for the NHS, added: “I am really looking forward to actually taking part in the London Marathon fully, but I know it’s going to be tough.”
Chris will be raising money for the University’s Charity of the Year, Worcester Foodbank.
Visit https://worcesterfoodbank.enthuse.com/pf/lumberjack for more.
