Royal Marine Smashes Half Marathon Record – With a Fridge on His Back!
Sam Hammond, 30, a Royal Marine from Cornwall, has just shattered the world record for running a half marathon carrying a fridge on his back. Clocking in at an incredible 2 hours 4 minutes and 13 seconds, he smashed the previous record of 2 hours 45 minutes by a huge margin.
Meet ‘Fridget Jones’ – The Fridge-Carrying Fundraiser
Based at RNAS Culdrose, Sam is no stranger to running with white goods strapped on to raise cash for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Nicknamed ‘Fridget Jones’, he told us before the race:
“I’ve been doing this for a while to raise money for charity and I just wanted to take it to the next level. I started with the Brighton Half, aiming to break the full marathon record at the London Marathon this year. The current half marathon record with a fridge is 2 hours 45 minutes and I’m confident I can beat that.”
Sam also revealed the personal reason behind his mission:
“Being away for months at a time hits the family hard. SSAFA supports families in emergencies when you can’t be there, and I think that work is crucial. I want to help.”
The Challenge: A Bulky 26kg Fridge
The Guinness World Records requires the fridge to weigh at least 25kg. Sam’s fridge tips the scales at 26kg — about the same as an average eight-year-old child. But he says it’s not just the weight that makes it tough:
“It’s the bulkiness. It’s not close to your back like a backpack, so carrying 26kg this way is far tougher. Plus, when I’m out practicing, I can’t run for more than 10 minutes without people stopping me and asking what on earth I’m doing!”
For regular training, Sam sticks to carrying weights instead.
Overcoming Recent Health Setbacks
Sam has been through extra challenges lately – he recently had an operation to remove a benign lump from his chest.
“The stitches are exactly where the fridge straps go. It really couldn’t have come at a worse time. I’ve rested up, which was the hardest part because I’m not used to being still. But now, I’m raring to get back training.”
Want to support Sam’s incredible feat? Help him smash fundraising goals for SSAFA by donating to his charity drive.
