Running for the record
Mimi Anderson from Edinburgh is part way through her epic attempt to run across America, writes Susie Wright
Mimi Anderson, a 55-year-old grandmother and mother of three, from Edinburgh is hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest time running coast-tocoast across America.
Mimi started her odyssey on the steps of LA City Hall on 7 September, and is just over halfway through her 2,850 mile challenge, having reached Ellinwood, Kansas. Running up to 60 miles each day, for 15 hours, Mimi will cross 12 states in total, attempting to smash the current female world record of 68 days and reach New York City Hall in just 53 days. As well as the immense physical and mental challenge, Mimi has had to contend with baking heat, running in temperatures well over 40C in Arizona, plus coping with hailstones in Colorado and gale force winds in Kansas. She has avoided obstacles including tarantulas, rattlesnakes and wild dogs, although the biggest danger remains being hit by traffic.
This epic adventure is Mimi’s biggest challenge to date, but she already has a stack of records and accolades under her belt. She’s run across the Sahara Desert, the Arctic and even set a world record running from Land’s End to John O’groats, but crossing America has been a burning ambition since she took up running in her 30s.
The run has taken two years to plan and the entire trip will be monitored by her dedicated entourage, including fellow ultrarunner, Jenny Davis, who will accompany her for the entire trip as her head of crew. As well as Jenny, Mimi has a small team of dedicated supporters including her husband Tim, to run with her, track her progress and make sure she’s fed and watered.
Mimi says, “I haven’t always been a runner. I never liked the shape of my legs and somebody told me that the quickest way to get thinner thighs was to take up running so that’s how I ended up on the treadmill at 36.
“I’m a much stronger person than I was before, and it’s given me back the confidence which I lost somewhere along the line. What I’d really love is for other people to join me.”
Also helping her to achieve her ambitions, is Bafta-winning, Glasgow-based production company, Scrumptious Productions, whose founder, Carol Cooke will be with Mimi at every step, filming the documentary Mimi & Me for 53 to bring Mimi’s incredible story to the screen.
Mimi & Me for 53 is also a social media campaign accompanying the documentary to inspire people of all ages – especially young women – to take up physical activity for 53 days and beyond to support the project and improve their physical and mental health.
Cooke, whose company’s mission is to “change the world, one film at a time”, says: “Within minutes of meeting Mimi I knew I had to make this film. I was so inspired and could see how much her story and this latest challenge could inspire audiences of all ages and fitness abilities into action and into exercise. However, I didn’t want to take the traditional approach, film the entire process, hibernate for six months and frantically edit and release the film. I knew that to achieve maximum impact that this had to be done in real time.
“So that’s what we’re doing with the #Mimiandmefor53 campaign. We’re not only creating a documentary to watch and be inspired by Mimi. We’re creating a real-time, real-life experience for people to take part in and, fingers crossed, enjoy the life changing benefits of. It’s a whole new way of approaching film funding and production and, to be honest, it’s all pretty nerve-wracking but thankfully, just like Mimi we’re up for the challenge.”
Anyone interested in following Mimi and joining the campaign can find it on www.mimiandmefor53.co.uk as well as liking it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The campaign will raise funds not only for the film but also for Mimi’s chosen charity, Free to Run, which uses running and outdoor adventure to empower and educate women and girls who have been affected by conflict.
Mimi hopes to reach New York City Hall before 29 October. n
Mimi is attempting to smash the current female world record of 68 days and reach New York City Hall in 53 days