Royal Marine Shatters Marathon Record – With a Fridge on His Back!
Royal Marine Corporal Sam Hammond has smashed the Guinness World Record for running a marathon while carrying a fridge on his back. The 30-year-old completed the London Marathon in a staggering 4 hours, 52 minutes, and 10 seconds – beating the previous record by a whopping 57 minutes!
From Half-Marathon Hero to Marathon Record Breaker
This is not Sam’s first fridge-running feat. Just weeks earlier, he claimed a world record for running a half-marathon with a 23kg fridge strapped to him in Brighton. Now the Cornwall-based weapons instructor has raised over £4,700 for armed forces charity SSAFA.
Supporters can still donate via his fundraising page: Man vs Fridge Fundraiser.
Brutal Challenge Nearly Broke Him
Sam admitted the gruelling marathon pushed him to his limits. “I’d never run the full 26 miles with weight before starting,” he revealed. “The last few weeks’ pressure was the worst – you question your training. I just wanted to get there and get it done.”
“It was discipline rather than motivation that got me through. Training in the pouring rain and finishing the course took everything I had.”
Despite the pain, “admiration and drive” from fellow runners kept his spirits high. “I must have fist-bumped and high-fived at least a thousand runners. The crowds were six or seven people deep in places, even in the rain.”
Racing the Wall – And Winning
Sam’s challenge ramped up at mile 15 when fatigue hit hard. “I knew I had to change tactics. It became a game of preservation knowing 10 miles were left.”
The toughest test came on mile 21, when he “hit the wall.” Battling exhaustion, cramps, and nasty sores, he slowed to walking on inclines but refused to quit.
“I could feel my body wanting to shut down, but at 600 metres to go, I knew I could do it. I never thought about ditching the fridge, just about finishing.”
True to his Royal Marine grit, Sam ran the final stretch to the finish. “The boot-neck in me wasn’t going to accept walking to the end. You need to finish on a high, don’t you?”
He concluded, “I’m elated to have done it. Thanks to everyone who messaged, supported, and donated. I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Back to Duty and Fitness Tested
As if conquering a marathon wasn’t enough, Sam had just passed his mandatory Armed Forces fitness test. The day after the marathon, he was back at work at RNAS Culdrose, joining an induction course with the Royal Navy’s drone experts, 700X Naval Air Squadron.
