Martin Tighe Goes the Distance
Sets 4 world records on treadmill

Martin Tighe setting new world records

Posted Saturday, 2 April, 2005

449,486 feet
149, 828 yards
64,800 strides
43,200 seconds run
18,500 treadmill revolutions
8,880 calories burned
720 minutes spent staring at the display
160 ounces sweat evaporated
128 ounces mineral water
100K World Record 7:39:31
75 spectators cheering you on
5OK World Record (7:20 mile pace)
32 ounces of bananas
50Mile World Record 6:06:19
28 ounces- Fig Newton's
12 hour World Record 85.13 miles
8 minutes 33 seconds average pace
5 fleeting moments of self doubt
4 world records
3 speedy bio breaks
2 tired legs
1 pair LOCO Xpresso's

Just too cold to run outside this weekend? Heading for a 30 minute run on the treadmill instead? Remember how nice it is to get off that treadmill when you consider Martin Tighe's workout plans last Saturday.

Over the weekend when most people were spending a marathon session watching March Madness basketball on TV, Martin Tighe was getting a long workout on a treadmill, a seriously long, world record breaking run. While you were rolling over at 8:00 A.M on Saturday morning, Martin had already been on the treadmill for two hours, cranking out miles in just over 7 minute pace heading towards his first of four records, the 50K in 3:44:48. (Yes that's 7:20 pace for 5 miles longer than a marathon for those keeping track)

At the Massachusetts Emerald Square Mall, in front of inspired onlookers, Martin's blue and orange LOCO Xpresso shoes flashed in a blur on the NordicTrack treadmill.

The goal, to set four Guinness Book of World Records in a single effort. This 12 hour effort was just a warm up for Martin Tighe's April 29 attempt to run more than 154 miles in 24 hours, which also would be a world record.

For the record, Tighe set the record for the most miles run on a treadmill over a 12 hour period, 85.83 miles, eclipsing the old record by 0.15 miles. Tighe also set treadmill records for the 50-kilometer, 3:44:48, the 50-mile, 6:06:19, and the 100 kilometer, 7:39:31.

"I feels great right now, the last 5K I really nose dived - for a couple of moments that I thought I was going to drop out." he said afterward.

This run was aimed at attracting attention to another passion of Martins'. That is helping at-risk teens go the distance in school. Martin's day job is an adjustment counselor at "The Network, Attleboro's alternative school environment for at-risk teens.

"It's about the program and the struggles and the challenges that they have, I get a lot of inspiration from their resiliency to the challenges they face in their lives." He said.

Martin kept his energy level up with a regular race staple of vitamin water, bananas and Fig Newton's. However, he still struggled at times. To set four records in one run, Martin had to run at the much faster pace for the first records and then hold on for the last few hours. Major quad cramps slowed him after he set the 100K record. The crowds cheers kept him on track and running. After setting this record, Tighe raised his arms in a "V" for victory. Tighe' is already an accomplished ultra runner. In April 2003, he won the North Pole Ultra marathon, a trek across the Artic. For that one, he trained for months in a walk in freezer. This time it was in a climate controlled environment, but the run was just as hard and inspiring to all.

See the shoes that went the distance at http://www.locorunning.com

See more images and info on Go the Distance at: "GO THE DISTANCE"