Man Smashes Half Marathon Record – With a Fridge on His Back!
Sam Hammond, 30, has shattered the world record for running a half marathon carrying a fridge. Clocking in at 2 hours 4 minutes and 13 seconds, he blitzed the previous record of 2 hours 45 minutes by a whopping 41 minutes!
Fridget Jones Takes on the Challenge for Charity
The Royal Marine, based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, is no ordinary runner. Nicknamed ‘Fridget Jones’, Sam hauls white goods on his back to raise cash for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. He told us before the run:
“I’ve been doing this for a while to raise money for charity and wanted to take it to the next level. I’m kicking off with the Brighton Half, aiming to break the full marathon fridge-carry record at the London Marathon this year. The current half marathon record is 2 hours 45 minutes and I’m confident I can smash that.”
“When you’re away for months at a time, it affects the family left behind. I’ve seen how SSAFA supports families in emergencies, and their work is crucial. I want to help.”
The Heavy, Bulky Challenge of Carrying a Fridge
Guinness World Records insists the fridge must weigh at least 25kg. Sam’s fridge tips the scales at 26kg—about the weight of an average eight-year-old child. But it’s not just the weight that’s a problem.
“A fridge is bulky and awkward,” explained Sam. “The weight isn’t close to your back like a backpack, so carrying 26kg is much harder. Plus, when I train, I can’t last more than 10 minutes without people stopping to ask what on earth I’m doing! So for normal runs, I just carry weights instead.”
Overcoming Setbacks: Surgery and Recovery
Sam has recently battled another obstacle—a benign lump removed from his chest. The stitches sit right where the fridge straps go, making training tricky.
“It couldn’t have come at a worse time, but I’m confident I’ll be fine. Resting up has been the hard part—I’m not used to sitting still and I’m itching to get back to training.”
Support the Fridget Jones Phenomenon
Impressed by Sam’s fridge-carrying feats? Show your support and donate to his SSAFA fundraiser today. Every penny helps those who sacrifice so much for our country.
