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Space & Astronomy

Peake earns world record for space marathon

By T.K. Randall
April 25, 2016 · Comment icon 12 comments

Tim Peake running the London marathon in space. Image Credit: NASA TV
British astronaut Tim Peake has succeeded in running the London marathon while aboard the space station.
Being strapped to a treadmill in a weightless environment might not seem like the most ideal setup for running 26.2 miles, but Peake, who arrived on the International Space Station in December, didn't let this phase him as he completed the run in 3 hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds.

"I'm relieved it's over and I'm sure Tim is, too," said the astronaut's exercise specialist Patrick Jaekel. "His running style was really good all the way to the end. It was a perfect finish."
Despite carrying only 70% of his bodyweight via a special harness, running the marathon in a weightless environment is not as easy as it seems - not least because muscles tend to weaken considerably after months in space, which is why the astronauts exercise for two hours a day.

Fortunately though Peake managed to make it look easy and has even achieved a new Guinness World Record for being the first man to complete a marathon in space.

The first woman to do so was astronaut Suni Williams who ran the Boston Marathon back in 2007.



Source: The Guardian | Comments (12)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #3 Posted by Saru 8 years ago
Looks like he's succeeded and has even earned a new Guinness World Record to boot. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/apr/24/runners-high-tim-peake-finishes-london-marathon-in-space
Comment icon #4 Posted by Sundew 8 years ago
Congratulations! (Also the stations batteries are fully charged now!)
Comment icon #5 Posted by Black Monk 8 years ago
London Marathon? He actually went the equivalent of just over twice around Earth's equator.
Comment icon #6 Posted by MissJatti 8 years ago
Well done Peake
Comment icon #7 Posted by diablo_04 8 years ago
Its interesting how people are doing dumb stuff just to get any recognition...and don't forget he is in a 0 gravity so its close like siting in a big char in moving my legs in mid air for half a day and say I just finish a marathon.
Comment icon #8 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 8 years ago
Its interesting how people are doing dumb stuff just to get any recognition If you think the first official British astronaut (or ANY astronaut) needs to do this to get recognition then you are deluding yourself. and don't forget he is in a 0 gravity so its close like siting in a big char in moving my legs in mid air for half a day and say I just finish a marathon. No it really isn't like that. The entire point of the tread mill on the ISS is to provide exercise by simulating 1g. Strong elastic is used to pull the astronaut onto the tread mill. Running a marathon on that device would be like r... [More]
Comment icon #9 Posted by paperdyer 8 years ago
If you think the first official British astronaut (or ANY astronaut) needs to do this to get recognition then you are deluding yourself. No it really isn't like that. The entire point of the tread mill on the ISS is to provide exercise by simulating 1g. Strong elastic is used to pull the astronaut onto the tread mill. Running a marathon on that device would be like running a marathon on a tread mill on Earth. Yes, but minus the heat/cold, wind, etc. I applaud Peake for doing it at all, but the 15 minutes of fame has to be in there somewhere.
Comment icon #10 Posted by diablo_04 8 years ago
If you think the first official British astronaut (or ANY astronaut) needs to do this to get recognition then you are deluding yourself. Fame is like a drug, you have attention h*** and this can be found in any job deion....being an astronaut doesn't make him immune and if you think because he is an astronaut he is not for the fame, then you are the one who is delusional. No it really isn't like that. The entire point of the tread mill on the ISS is to provide exercise by simulating 1g. Strong elastic is used to pull the astronaut onto the tread mill. Running a marathon on that device would be... [More]
Comment icon #11 Posted by Krater 8 years ago
I just completed a marathon running in place in my swimming pool. Does that count, too?
Comment icon #12 Posted by ROGER 8 years ago
Well I'm 62 yrs old and weigh in at a slim trim 380 lbs . so Color me impressed all the same .


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