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Sharon sets new treadmill world record

01 April 2015

 

Ultra distance runner Sharon Gayter has set a new world record running for 12 hours on a treadmill.

Sharon set the new women's world record, clocking up 98.66km in a 12 hour period running on a treadmill at Teesside University’s Olympia Building. The record had stood at 96.80km – just over 60 miles.

When Sharon embarked on her run on Tuesday this week, her aim was to spend two days and two nights on the treadmill at Teesside University and break the record for 48 hours on a treadmill.

But after taking ill last night and still managing to break the 12 hour record around midnight, Sharon continued until 4am this morning, when she was forced to call it a day.

Sharon, who has been supported by staff from the University’s School of Social Sciences, Business & Law during her run, said: 'I started to feel sick around 9pm but wanted to keep going to at least set one record, which I managed to break at midnight. I took a short break and was able to continue one until 4am, but I just wasn’t able to recover from the sickness.

'I’m bitterly disappointed, but at least it’s better to have at least set one record and achieve something.'

The part-time lecturer at Teesside University made headlines in 2011 when she spent seven days on a treadmill, smashing both the men’s and women’s world records and covering a total distance of 833.05km or 517.63 miles. That record is yet to be beaten.

During her career Sharon has run over 300 marathons and 100 ultra-distance races, including the Badwater Ultramarathon of 135 miles across Death Valley – billed as the hottest race on earth. In 2009 she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championships 24 hour event.

She added: 'I’m grateful to Teesside University for once again showing me incredible support, they’ve been brilliant, absolutely faultless.'

Keith Haley, from the University's School of Social Sciences, Business & Law, said: 'We are always happy to offer support to Sharon and we congratulate her on her latest achievement.'


 
 
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