~ Field Notes ~

How to plan for a world record attempt
Running training plan., Running shoes review, Running for beginners, Running goals, Running strategies, Running drills, Running tips, Running programs, Running events calendar, Running performance, Distance running, Running mindset, Tapering for a marathon, Running injuries, Nutrition for runners, Running form, Endurance running, Speed training, Running economy, Marathon training, Mental toughness, Fitness motivation, Charity running, Running community, Physical fitness, Marathon runners, Athletic competition, Personal best, Competitive running, Marathon route, Runner's high, Training plans, Running shoes, Running gear, Cardiovascular health, Track and field, Race performance, Top runners, Sports records, Athletic achievement, Fitness and health, Endurance training, Record-breaking, Long-distance running, Elite athletes, Running events, Marathon running, World record, London marathon, Guinness world record London marathon, Guinness World record Chris Shirley MA FRGS Running training plan., Running shoes review, Running for beginners, Running goals, Running strategies, Running drills, Running tips, Running programs, Running events calendar, Running performance, Distance running, Running mindset, Tapering for a marathon, Running injuries, Nutrition for runners, Running form, Endurance running, Speed training, Running economy, Marathon training, Mental toughness, Fitness motivation, Charity running, Running community, Physical fitness, Marathon runners, Athletic competition, Personal best, Competitive running, Marathon route, Runner's high, Training plans, Running shoes, Running gear, Cardiovascular health, Track and field, Race performance, Top runners, Sports records, Athletic achievement, Fitness and health, Endurance training, Record-breaking, Long-distance running, Elite athletes, Running events, Marathon running, World record, London marathon, Guinness world record London marathon, Guinness World record Chris Shirley MA FRGS

How to plan for a world record attempt

In 2016, I set my first world record when I successfully completed the London marathon carrying a 100-lb backpack, something that had never been done on record before (I suspect people have completed it before so I don’t think of myself as being the first to have ever done it).

The process was something I get asked about by adventurers after hearing my Tales of Adventure podcast, and so I decided to document the process for others who also want to enter the Guinness book of records.

Read More
What it's like to walk the London marathon carrying a 100-lb backpack, to set a world record
Endeavour, Fortitude, Resilience, Indomitable spirit Chris Shirley MA FRGS Endeavour, Fortitude, Resilience, Indomitable spirit Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What it's like to walk the London marathon carrying a 100-lb backpack, to set a world record

So it just happened. The idea. It kept on coming back to me, over and over again. Like I could just reach out and touch it. If he could carry an 80-lb. pack for 26.2 miles – then maybe I could do it with a 100-lb. (45.36kg) pack. I was surprised no-one had ever done it – I've had one or two podium places in low level Taekwondo competitions, but nothing quite on this scale. Nothing that would put me the best at something in the entire world!

It's daunting when you say it out loud: The; Entire; World.

Read More
The 7 principles I follow for taking on physical challenges that intimidate me
ironman, resilience, silk road mountain race (SRMR), social mobility, determination, perseverance, motivation, neuroscience, BBC, physical challenges, intention-behaviour gap, BJJ, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, London marathon, life goals, mountaineering, mountain biking, Kyrgyzstan, bikepacking, world record, silk road mountain race, marathon, run, bike, Swim, IM triathlon, ironman triathlon, the Iron-nun, Madonna Buder Chris Shirley MA FRGS ironman, resilience, silk road mountain race (SRMR), social mobility, determination, perseverance, motivation, neuroscience, BBC, physical challenges, intention-behaviour gap, BJJ, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, London marathon, life goals, mountaineering, mountain biking, Kyrgyzstan, bikepacking, world record, silk road mountain race, marathon, run, bike, Swim, IM triathlon, ironman triathlon, the Iron-nun, Madonna Buder Chris Shirley MA FRGS

The 7 principles I follow for taking on physical challenges that intimidate me

82 years old and completing an Ironman triathlon. That’s a 2.4-mile (3.8-km) swim, followed by a 112-mile (180-km) cycle, and finishing with a 26.2-mile (42.2-km) run. Just think about that for a second longer.

It’s stories like hers that motivate me to keep going when the journey ahead seems impossible to move forward.

In the next few years, I'll be aiming to complete the Silk Road Mountain race, a 1700-kilometre continuous bikepacking race in Kyrgyzstan, and one of my biggest personal challenges since a mountaineering accident in 2019 almost permanently stopped me from doing things I love altogether.

There are the 7 principles that I use to fit training to previous adventures that I’ll use to get myself to the finishing line.

Read More