Today Jim Haysom announced that he will attempt to set a brand new world record for running the fastest London Marathon and flipping 15,000 beer mats.  The record attempt will take place in 25 days during the Virgin Money London Marathon 2010 on Sunday 25th April.

This is such an incredible task, it certainly demonstrates that “impossible is nothing”  Having already ran two previous London Marathons in 2004 and 2007 and raising money for charity, his third and possibly final attempt in 2010 will be again to raise money for a good cause.

Speaking of his latest challenge, Jim Haysom comments,

“This world record attempt will bring together endurance and skill.  I had originally considered setting a record of flipping 1,042,010 beer mats, but that would mean flipping 25 beer mats every metre.  Running 26.2 miles or over 42 km is difficult enough, but to do this at the same time, you’d be a fool.  Therefore, I’ve decided to flip a stack of 25 beer mats at a rate of 100 times an hour and set the bar at 15,000 in about 6 hours.”

Jim Haysom’s training started today along the Richmond riverside at 8am and flipping beer mats off a wall.  It was a crisp morning and the the fresh air and blue sky was enough to get him all fired up. 

I’ll be looking for any opportunity to flip beer mats during the race, whether it be outside the many pubs that line the route, off park benches in front of the Tower of London or even on the water stations if it’s not too crowded.  Hopefully the London spectators will be cheering me on and into the world record books.

London Marathon Beer Mat Flipping World Record Attempt

If you want to sponsor Jim Haysom for running the London Marathon, you can donate online at www.justgiving.com/jimhaysom where money will be raised for the NCT Charity.