Boulder Fitness Trainer attempts to Break World Record

Tony Stafford, Boulder fitness trainer and founder of local fitness group, Boulder Sports Performance, has dedicated his life to physical fitness and hopes to set a new world record.

For his 30th birthday on March 27th, Stafford will be attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record for carrying a 40-pound pack over the distance of a marathon. That’s a total 26.2 miles full of elevation gain, elevation loss, rolling hills of sand, all which is taking place under the hot New Mexico sun.

“This is a record that no one has attempted to break in 20 years, and it’s exciting being the first one to make this attempt,” said Stafford.

The previous record was set by Gary Homer, a man from the United Kingdom, in 1991, who ran the distance of 26.2 miles with a 40-lb weight vest on his back in four hours and 42 minutes.

Tony will attempt to do the same, however he will try to do it in under four hours and on a much more difficult terrain.

“It’s not going to be easy, but with the training I’ve done, I feel confident that I can hit that four hour mark,” said Stafford.

Training began for Tony six months ago, when he began training with a weight vest every week. He wears the vest just about everywhere he goes, adding weight to it in 2.5 lbs increments, building up to that 40 pounds of extra weight.

On Sunday, March 27th, the gun will sound, signaling the beginning of the marathon.