RAF Cosford athletes aim to ‘runway’ with record
It is a world record that has stood for three years – and now a team at RAF Cosford is hoping to bring it to Shropshire.
A group of 100 Royal Air Force athletes have started their attempt to break the record for the 100x10km relay at RAF Cosford.
Group Captain John Lawlor, chairman of the Royal Air Force Athletics Association, set off on the first leg at 1pm yesterday on the station's outdoor running track.
Cheered on by a crowd of well-wishers, the team aim to beat the current world record that was set in America in 2015 and currently stands at 69 hours six minutes and 52 seconds.
To break the record the 100 Royal Air Force men and women from around the UK will each have to run 25 laps of the 400m track in an average of 41 minutes.
The attempt will take almost three days to complete and to be verified by the Guinness Book of World Records independent witnesses have to be present throughout and every single minute has to be filmed.
One of the main event organisers, Senior Aircraftman Mike Kallenberg, said: "After months of planning it is a relief to finally get started. I have to say a huge thanks to all involved in helping to organise this. The willingness of everyone to help epitomises the RAF’s ethos."
The attempt is taking place as one of many events up and down the country during the RAF’s Centenary year.
