Space & Astronomy

Tim Peake to run London marathon in space

By T.K. Randall
December 6, 2015

Image: International Space Station
Credit: (PD) NASA Running a marathon can be a grueling challenge at the best of times, but imagine trying to do that while strapped to a treadmill in a weightless environment over 200 miles above the Earth.

This is the challenge astronaut Tim Peake will be attempting next April during his stint aboard the orbiting outpost in a bid to become the first man to run a marathon in space.Only one other person has ever achieved such a feat - astronaut Suni Williams who ran the Boston Marathon in much the same way back in 2007.

"I have to wear a harness system that's a bit similar to a rucksack," said Peake. "It has a waistbelt and shoulder straps. That has to provide quite a bit of downforce to get my body onto the treadmill so after about 40 minutes, that gets very uncomfortable. "

"I've set myself a goal of anywhere between 3:30 to four hours."


Source: Toronto Star

Tags: Tim Peake, Marathon