Today, the Guinness World Record for the longest, continuous running relay has been broken as the final baton holder crossed the finish line of the I Move London Relay at Tower Bridge, London.
The relay, which took place continuously for 30 days and 30 nights, saw 2000 participants from all over the UK run 5k and 10k legs through day and night to complete the 4,014.52 mile course – beating the previous record by 510 miles.
The I Move London Relay, brainchild of ex-GB Triathlete Danny Bent and powered by ASICS, started on Friday 29th June with the ambition of uniting London communities, raising funds for charity and breaking the previous record held by Keep on Running (Ireland), in 2012.
As well as breaking the previous record and bringing hundreds of people together through running, the challenge has raised over £50,000 for its charity partners – The Running Charity, Laureus and Sported – helping to improve the lives of countless young people who are affected by homelessness, gang culture and mental health.
Runners came from all corners of the UK to run with ‘Rod’, the baton, and in all sorts of guises: from blind runners with guides to those in fancy dress during Pride, night runners to father and son duo’s, wheelchair pushing carers to after-work running groups and even World Cup fans who managed to watch games from an iPad wearing marshal. The relay also drew sporting stars including Daley Thomspon, former British heptathlete and Victoria Pendleton, former track cyclist.
Victoria Pendleton, Laureus Ambassador and Olympic cycling star, says:
“As a Laureus Ambassador, I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in the I Move London Relay. I was lucky enough to run a leg earlier this week and the positive atmosphere surrounding the event was infectious. We are so thankful that funds raised will help enable Laureus Sport for Good to support more programmes using sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage around the world.”