Story By: Anna Guran, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport

This Russian ultramarathon runner has reportedly broken the world record for a continuous marathon after running 96 hours without sleeping.

Russian runner Vitaly Didenko had initially planned to run from the village of Giaginskaya in the Republic of Adygea in Russia to the capital Moscow, some 1,300 kilometres (800 miles), but his plans had to be postponed indefinitely for unclear reasons.

The runner then decided to break his own record of running 72 hours without sleep in a park in Giaginskaya village, running for 96 hours straight from 9:00 am on July 18th and finishing at the same time on July 22nd.

Pictures Credit: Golders/@import555

His record has now been validated by Russian agency Interrecord, with the agency confirming that Didenko had broken the previous record, which he held, of 72 hours continuous running. He was handed a certificate by Interrecord. 

He told local media: “Before me, no one ever tried to run 96 hours continuously. I was not used to giving up and was pleased with the fact that it was possible to realise my plans. It was very difficult.

“For four days I was experiencing a hellish pain in my feet, as if I were constantly being pricked with needles. The last three days I was allowed to do a foot massage for an hour and a half every day. Of course, it was not possible to fall asleep at the same time.”

After the marathon, the athlete reportedly passed a medical examination and is continuing to recover. 

It is unclear if the record will be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records for validation.

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