Dunedin Runner Attempts World Record For Fastest 10km Run With A Pram
Dunedin runner Dougal Thorburn (31) and his daughter Audrey (2) hope to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest 10km run while pushing a pram this weekend.
- (1888PressRelease) October 19, 2012 - Chariot Carriers, NSW, Australia - They will line up with some of Otago's best runners on Sunday morning at the New Balance Hill Free 10km race at Outram. Start time is 9.30am.
Their Guinness World Record attempt, currently set at 34:19 by Russell Stokes in Australia (2008), must occur on an officially measured course using a commercially available pram with a child in it. Their pram for the record attempt, and the same one Thorburn has used for the past five years, is a non-modified 'Chariot', a Canadian brand of prams and strollers, available in New Zealand.
Thorburn is a past New Zealand Mountain Running Representative, a New Zealand Universities Athletics Blues recipient (2009) and a National Medallist in multiple running disciplines including Cross Country (Bronze 2010), Mountain Running (Silver, 2009), the Marathon (Bronze 2011) and athletics (5000m, Bronze 2003). A double Otago Cross Country champion and Otago Winter Athlete of the Year (2009-2010), Thorburn's best time for the 10km (without a pram) is 30:40 (2012) and 66:16 for the half marathon (2010). In July 2012, Thorburn ran 33:11 for a 10km while pushing the pram but hasn't attempted the record under official conditions.
Thorburn's training has been progressing well and occurs on the background of some big miles run while pushing the pram.
Pics: Dougal Thorburn and his daughter Audrey in training for their Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest 10km run while pushing a pram.
"We've clocked up around 15,000km in the five years I have had the pram," he says. "These have mostly been around the hills and tracks of Dunedin. Initially my eldest daughter Lucy was the passenger and now it's Audrey's turn. They've really enjoyed their rides and together we've had a great time relishing the fresh air, the bush and the sheer pleasure of moving through our beautiful environment. I also find we meet up with a lot of people while out and about on foot".
"One reason I'm attempting this Guinness World Record is to celebrate the fantastic times I've had with my daughters. It should be a bit of a laugh too."
Another reason Thorburn is attempting the Guinness World Record is to promote the benefits of sustainable transport. A doctor with post-graduate training in public health, Thorburn advocates for interventions that make it easier for people to get physically active. He is a particular fan of combining physical activity with transport. With a busy life, he says: "I have been able to remain a competitive distance runner, and have a shot at breaking this record, largely because I combine physical activity with transport." For example, he always runs or bikes to work, and often uses the pram as a shopping trolley, sometimes covering 20 km in an afternoon doing errands with his daughter.
While he recognises that covering large distances on foot may not be everyone's thing, he advocates for replacing short car trips with active forms of transport like walking, running or cycling.
He also states it's an ecological and human health imperative that we transition to more sustainable forms of transport. "Climate change is real. We all have a responsibility to look after our planet. But we also need to exercise and have fun. I find walking and running with the pram a great way of doing all three. A win on all fronts."
About Chariots Carriers:
Chariot Carriers is a family run business that offers strollers and prams online. They are solely dedicated to producing the finest outdoor transportation products for kids. They aimed at delivering the safest, highest quality and best performing products on the market. They offer a wide range of versatile child strollers and carriers that get you and the family into the outdoors - it introduces your children to the world outside and lets you share your fit & healthy lifestyle with the family.
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