Michelle completes ten marathons in ten days
2:06pm Wednesday 21st May 2008
YORK'S answer to the Bionic Woman has broken a world record by completing an incredible ten marathons in ten days.
Michelle Atkins went through the pain barrier to cover 262 miles around Lake Windermere - raising more than £3,000 for charity in the process.
Michelle, 41, from New Earswick, is believed to be the first woman in the world to achieve the record.
But she said today she won't win a place in the Guinness Book Of Records because of a technicality.
She said that the book had set the ten marathon challenge last year for all runners. A man had then completed the runs and gone in the book, and organisers were not now prepared to list her as the first woman to achieve the record.
Michelle, who works for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and is a member of York Knavesmire Harriers running club, took part in the Brathay Ten Marathons In Ten Days Challenge with a group of other men and women.
She told today of her gruelling ordeal, which began each day by getting up at 5.30am to eat some food and prepare for the run.
When she awoke on the second day in great pain, after completing her first marathon the day before, she wondered how she would ever be able to run another one. But after physio and a massage, she managed to set off.
By the time she was due to start her sixth run, she had even greater pain in her left leg because of a muscle problem and she broke down in tears, thinking she would have to give up.
But the physio gave her the OK to carry on and, dosed up with painkillers, she did.
As well as muscle pain, she also got badly sunburned on the back of her neck and legs, and also suffered from some dehydration.
She said she started at 9.30am each day, and had a half-hour massage after finishing before sitting in the lake's cold water to help the muscles and blood flow.
"It was like Groundhog Day, because I was repeatedly running the same route."
She said colleagues, family and friends came along to support, shout and keep her going along the route.
"It's something I will never forget," she said, adding that after crossing the finishing line for the final time, the male runners poured champagne over her head.
Michelle looks set to have raised about £3,200 in sponsorship for Brathay Hall Trust, which works with children and young people to provide skills and help them overcome difficulties.