Trawden firefighter aiming for marathon record to raise money for cancer charity (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Trawden firefighter aiming for marathon record to raise money for cancer charity

10:51am Thursday 7th May 2009 in

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A TRAWDEN man is training to become the fastest firefighter to ever run a marathon in full kit.

Steve Gregory, 34, is acting crew manager at Rawtenstall Fire Station and has worked saving lives for 10 years.

On May 31, he will compete in the Edinburgh Marathon wearing his full kit, which weighs more than three stone, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The kit includes boots, a helmet, a tunic, protective trousers, and a breathing apparatus set. He will be trying to beat the record for the ‘Fastest marathon in Fireman’s Uniform’, which currently stands at 5hrs 33mins 10 sec.

Steve said: “I did the Edinburgh Marathon last year and enjoyed it so much I decided to do it again. But I wanted it to be more of a challenge and more worthy. Last year there was a man trying to break the record for the marathon in a full Spiderman kit, so that gave me an idea. After that I started trawling record books looking at the fire uniform record.

“I found out that a man tried to beat the record in the London Marathon the other week, but failed. He came in 10 minutes too late – so that is driving me on.

“I’ve got a GPS watch and I’ll be pacing myself, so I know exactly where I need to be at different times.”

Steve will be taking a physio, a support team, and friends and family along on the day to cheer him on in his quest to raise £750 for Macmillan.

“I’m very confident I can do it, but the biggest issue is running in the boots.

“Hopefully I’ll not end up with too many blisters.”

Steve has designed a 12-week training progamme. Sponsor Steve on http://www. justgiving.com/macmillan539