Run Britain – News – Sichel tackles six day endurance record in Hungary

  William Sichel travelled out to Hungary on Saturday in readiness for the UNIX 6 Day Road Race in Balatonfured in western Hungary, which runs from today until next Tuesday.

William's prime target will be the 129 year old record of Edinburgh man George Noremac set in Madison Square Garden, New York in 1882.  Noremac's 567 miles in 6 Days remains, to this day, as Scotland's oldest athletic record.

To date William remains unbeaten in the three previous 6 Day events he has competed in, the last being in 2008.  With a best distance of 532 miles set on the track in his last race, William considers himself well equipped to have a serious attempt on the record.

"I've run further than the 567 miles during the 1000 Mile World Cup race last year.  I've run over 200 miles in two days and I averaged almost 90 miles a day when I did my current personal best and I've shown recent form by covering over 70 miles in 12 hours.  I just need to average an extra 5 miles a day, for the 6 days, to be able to challenge the record."

The event in Hungary is a new one and has attracted a field of over 30 runners, representing 7 countries.  The 900 metre road course winds around a holiday park on the shores of the freshwater Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake and a popular holiday destination.

"The 6 Day event remains the 'Gold Standard' competition for multi-day runners with records and performances dating back such a long time.  The incredibly taxing combination of effort and duration is unequalled in any other sporting event currently practised."