Wigan runner looking for ANOTHER world record

A keen Wigan  runner is hoping that her latest fancy dress antics will bag her another world record.
Cat DAscendis took part in the Wigan 10k dressed as the gingerbread man to prepare for her world record attempt at the English half marathon on SundayCat DAscendis took part in the Wigan 10k dressed as the gingerbread man to prepare for her world record attempt at the English half marathon on Sunday
Cat DAscendis took part in the Wigan 10k dressed as the gingerbread man to prepare for her world record attempt at the English half marathon on Sunday

Cat DAscendis already has a global best for the fastest female runner to complete a marathon dressed as a gingerbread man

She finished the London marathon in three hours 46 minutes and 55 seconds in April to accomplish that feat .

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And last week she discovered that she appears in the new edition of the Guinness World Records book.

Cat DAscendisCat DAscendis
Cat DAscendis

Now, the 35-year-old has set her sights on taking another title.

She will attempt to break the record for the fastest female runner to finish a half marathon in a gingerbread costume.

Cat, who lives in Bickershaw, is aiming to complete the English half marathon in Warrington on Sunday in under two hours.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “I’m hopeful I can achieve it. It’s very weather-dependent. If it’s boiling hot I will struggle and if it’s wet and windy I will struggle, so the weather needs to be just right.

Cat DAscendisCat DAscendis
Cat DAscendis

“I think I can do it. I did the first half in under two hours in the London marathon so I think I should be able to do it.”

Cat resumed her usual running training after her marathon success, but dug out her gingerbread costume again for the Wigan 10k last week.

She said: “Wigan 10k was a fantastic outing for the outfit but it did remind me how difficult it is running in it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But she is determined to race in the costume again to set a new record and raise money for a cause close to her heart.

She is supporting charity Burning Nights in honour of a friend suffering from complex regional pain syndrome, which causes people to experience persistent and debilitating pain.

She raised more than £500 when she did the London marathon and thanked everyone who has supported her so far.

She hopes to raise a similar amount this time.

Mum-of-two Cat said: “It’s such a rare disease that there’s not a lot of research into it, so every bit of money that can be made for them is really appreciated. I would love to get another £500.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And she has not ruled out aiming for more world records in future.

“I did say I was going to hang him up after the London marathon, but he seems to have crawled out, so who knows? I will see what else I can do with him,” she said.

To support Cat, go to mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/catharinedascendis1.

Related topics: