Run Britain – News – Riley congratulated by Sir Richard Branson

On 17th April 2011 29-year-old former Royal Marine Lee Riley smashed the world record by over forty minutes for the fastest-ever marathon carrying a 40-lb pack over the 26.2-mile course of the Virgin London Marathon. Legendary athlete and then 25-year-old former "Red Beret" Parachute Regiment soldier Paddy Doyle had set the record, unbroken for twenty years, with a time of 4 hours 42 minutes.

In March 2011, Lee destroyed the world record for the 13.1-mile half-marathon with a 40-lb pack at Shakespeare Stratford Raceway in 1 hour 36 minutes 56 seconds, knocking seven minutes from the previous record which stood for ten years. London was his first marathon. His aim was 3 hours 30 minutes but nothing in Lee's varied time in the armed services, including Special Forces training, could have prepared him physically for running the marathon distance at that pace with a pack in the heat and in the crowds of thousands of other runners.

Lee was facing strong competition from 39-year-old intelligence officer Flt. Lt. Tim Artus, an RAF marathon champion who ran last year's VLM in 2:44.

At 16 miles, Lee began to struggle but by 'chunking' the rest of the distance and aiming for mile markers for the rest of the race, he concentrated on trying to pick up speed. Running the next few miles were the most difficult. The crowds became louder as the twenty-mile marker passed, still six miles to go, by which time he was on automatic pilot. A strong sprint over the final 400 metres gave him a time of slightly over 4 hours. He'd annihilated the twenty-year record but had marathon champion Tim Artus beaten him to it?

Lee donned his Marines' green beret as he crossed the finish line. Guinness World Records confirmed his time as 4 hours 1 minute and 17 seconds and Tim Artus's time as 4 hours 34 minutes 59 seconds.

Sir Richard Branson was at the finish and offered his congratulations to Lee.

Lee walked away with his pack, to continue his journey and pursue other records elsewhere. Paddy Doyle, former Red Beret and holder of that record since 1991, sent gracious congratulations.

Lee continues to support The Soldiers’ Charity and is actively seeking corporate and advertising sponsorship for his future high-profile fitness feats and challenges. His next dream is to run the supposedly-impossible sub-five minute mile with 40-lb pack, for which the present record is 5 minutes 35 seconds. Lee will be looking for innovative training methods to develop more strength and core fitness. This will develop his and the Riley Fitness team’s knowledge to further evolve the innovative personal, team and sports training techniques of Riley Fitness. To sponsor The Soldiers’ Charity via Lee or for more information on Riley Fitness personal training services, please visit www.rileyfitness.co.uk.