Macclesfield man eyes Guinness World Record running 500 days of 10k's
By Alex Greensmith
11th Sep 2024 | Local News
A determined Macclesfield man is running a 10 kilometre run every day, for 500 days.
Tom Stott will run 6.21 miles every day, until the end of 2025, in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record.
The NovaTherm Limited employee plans to beat the current record by 135 days, by running a 10km run every day for 500 days.
In total, Tom will run 5000 kilometres across the 500 days. That is 3106.8 miles, or five million metres.
Along the way, he will go on runs on holiday, take part in a continental sports tournament, and sprint during not one but TWO Christmas Days!
And the ambitious numbers do not stop there, as Tom wants to fundraise £10,000 for charity.
Macclesfield Nub News met with fitness-fanatic Tom to find out more.
"I've always enjoyed running", he said.
"I got really fit during the pandemic, and did 100 5Ks in a row in lockdown. I then completed an 'Iron Man challenge' with my friend Lee, where we raised money for a cause close to his heart. I then did the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Gritstone Trail, all within the space of five days.
"But this fundraiser is the first one on my own, and the first one for MIND.
"How it came about was, I went on the Guinness Book of World Records website, and filtered what records they had for running.
"I couldn't find any challenges for 5K runs, but they did have one for 'Most Consecutive Days to Run 10km'.
"The current record is 365 days. I thought I could do 366 days. I thought it seemed quite low, I am surprised nobody has done it.
"But there was a part of me that was restless about just getting one more than the current record, I thought I could go on for longer.
"I sort of decided it would be interesting to do it for the whole of 2025, to say that I'd done it for a full calendar year.
"So I worked out if I started August 19 2024, it would make 500 days.
"So I will finish on December 31 2025 and hopefully have a bit of a party at the end of it."
Tom has spent his own money to officially enter himself for the record.
The conditions are, he must complete a 10km run every day, within the 24 hours of that date. He must use a GARMIN watch to track distance.
He cannot do it on a treadmill, it has to be in the great outdoors. And Tom will be doing the challenge in a wide variety of locations, to keep things exciting.
"So far I have been running all around Macc," he revealed.
"I compete on the English FootGolf Tour, and will be heading to the European Footgolf Championships in Turkey to make my international debut for England later this year, where the runs won't stop.
"I have already done 10km runs in Spain and Greece too."
Tom was born in Macclesfield, and is a former pupil of Fallibroome Academy and Prestbury Primary School. He lives in the Thornton Square area of town.
He used to play for The Silkmen, and is currently affiliated with grassroots football clubs Bollington Town FC and AFC Prestbury.
AFC Prestbury. will receive a third of the funds Tom fundraises through this challenge, with the remaining 70% going to MIND.
A club spokesperson said: "Tom is the chairman, coach and player for our football team, he co-founded the club with his brother Zak.
"Tom has helped some of the players closely with advice on both addiction and ADHD.
"He is fundraising 70% for MIND and 30% for AFC Prestbury as he wants to be able to provide financial support to any players current or future who may need counselling, medical tests for themselves and so on where they may be suffering due to not being able to afford it.
"We would firstly like to wish Tom good luck with his 500 days of 10km runs, and also thank him for his close support given to the lads who have had their own struggles where Tom has been able to give advice and his time to help them.
"We would also like to thank all of the generous people who have donated or are thinking about donating, and we know for a fact that every pound does help so please donate if you can."
70% of the money he fundraises, will go to MIND, the mental health charity that has been helping Brits for over 60 years.
"I'm running to raise awareness and funds for a cause very close to my heart, being MIND, a mental health charity", he explained.
"I have struggled with mental health issues, including a gambling addiction that began when I was 16.
"I have been to Gambling Anonymous for 11 years, but I could not raise money for them. But MIND, who I have had a 12-year relationship with, helped me in a lot of ways.
"Especially when I was younger, and I didn't tell anyone. They kept in touch with me to see how I was doing."
So far, Tom is 22 days in, so has ran 220km so far and has 478 days to go.
For context, that is the same distance from Macclesfield to the south of Lebanon.
Tom, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday with a 10K run, has had 13 people donate so far.
"I would like to say a massive thank you to people who donate", he added.
"I have never been able to give back to the people that have helped me, until now.
"Every penny that is donated is huge. Anything that you can give will help people, and help spur me on.
"MIND has been a pillar of support for me and many of my loved ones who have faced depression, anxiety, and addiction.
"Their work is invaluable, and I want to give back by supporting their mission."
MIND was contacted by Macclesfield Nub News for comment.
Ian O'Reilly, head of community and events fundraising at the 78-year-old mental health charity, said: "We are really grateful to Tom for choosing to support MIND by running 10km every day, for 500 consecutive days, and we wish him well.
"It's a difficult time, with many of us now feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis on our mental health and wellbeing, especially those of us with existing mental health problems.
"One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year, and it's so important that no one has to face this alone.
"Every donation that Mind receives allows us to campaign to improve services and provide information and support.
"This includes through services such as the Mind Infoline, legal line and our online peer support community for adults, Side by Side, so we can be there for as many people who need us as possible."
Tom, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, will also be taking on a hyrox challenge soon, pushing his body even further.
"Running has completely changed me and my perception on everything," Tom concluded.
"Running and fitness has always been something to clear my mind.
"It has helped massively. I just love it.
Macclesfield: You can track Tom's progress on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Once again, you can donate to Tom's £10,000 fundraiser HERE.
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