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Tim Rogers thought it was pretty amusing to see a penguin waddle across the path he was running in Antarctica. He also found it funny for race volunteers in Moscow to serve him flat coke and stale salty bread as he ran by. And he and a majority of the spectators at a race in South Africa were entertained by his red clown nose that just wouldn’t stay on.
This Guinness World Record Holder for the fastest “Marathon on Each Continent,” has run more places than most of us have visited. Yet, he finds there is something about his home country’s marathon that makes it a unique favorite among world races.
“In London, the crowd support, the phenomenal number of runners, the entertainment in the pubs – you have to run it to know exactly how fantastic it is,” Rogers said.
This long-time running enthusiast and owner of Realbuzz.com, the running website in partnership with the marathon, also delights in another aspect that makes the Flora-London marathon distinct: fancy dress. For the past eight years, Rogers has dressed up and run the race in a variety of cumbersome costumes in order to entice more donations for his chosen charities.
He’s been a rhino, a computer and a sunflower, and this year he’ll try for the world-record for the widest, tallest and heaviest costume as Anthony Nolan Trust superhero.
“I don’t even want to look at it (the costume)” Rogers said. “The minute I go to the finish line, I want to throw it away.”
While his best time for a marathon is an impressive 3:06, his performance in London – which he predicts to be around the five-hour range – is more for the fun of it.
“In London, it’s purely survival,” Rogers said. “I want to finish with all my limbs intact.”
Regardless of how long it’ll take him to finish this year, Rogers has tips to improve other participants’ performances. After picking up running as a stress-reliever from work and a divorce, Rogers has since run over 50 marathons and learned a great deal – all of which he has put it into directing training groups and writing a book called Teach Yourself to Run a Marathon, due out in August.
Rogers suggests eating sensibly, with lots of carbohydrates, leading up to the race. He also advises getting used to the brand of energy drink volunteers will be passing out to get the body used to what racers will be putting in it. And as far as training goes, Rogers recommends gradual progression and build-up of mileage.
Also, his personal philosophy simply boils down to no quitting.
“Once you leave it one night, you leave it two nights, and you’re miles away.” He completes his workouts, no matter how early or late he has to run. This, and a little ambition and hard work, has taken Rogers all over the world (faster than anyone else.)
Click here for running tips from Tim Rogers >>
Lauren Burke
