Is this window cleaner really the world’s best ultra runner?
Fund-raiser accused of lying after he claims to have beaten Land’s End to John O’Groats record
IT LOOKS like nothing less than one of the greatest feats of human endurance of all time.
Mark Vaz, 32, a window cleaner from Staffordshire, last week completed an 860-mile charity run from Land’s End to John O’Groats, posing proudly with a sign showing his time of seven days, 18 hours and 45 minutes – a staggering 31 hours faster than the 14-year-old record.
Shortly after reaching his goal, he submitted an application to Guinness World Records to have his achievement ratified. His place in long-distance running history seemed assured.
But the tightly knit community of Britain’s ultra-distance runners has now challenged his claim, describing the time as “inconceivable” and calling him a fantasist.
One respected running blogger said it was “just not possible” for an unknown “middle-of-the-pack social runner” to knock more than a day off a record that top-class athletes had failed to beat.
Another pointed out that Mr Vaz’s own updates on social media suggested he had run the last 156 miles in more than 24 hours.
Mr Vaz has said he is the victim of jealousy; that he will repeat the feat; that he is withdrawing his record application; that he is taking legal action, and that he is giving up running.
Prior to his fund-raising run, Mr Vaz posted a sign on his support van that read: “World Record Attempt, Land’s End to John O’ Groats.” During the run, he tweeted updates such as “on target for the world record”. The official Guinness World Record is nine days, two hours and 26 minutes, set by Briton Andrew Rivett in 2002, who ran for an average of 18 hours per day.
After the backlash, Mr Vaz, who claimed he was subjected to death threats, said: “In regards to … this record I never once stated I beat it or wanted to beat it, I did it for charity … I won’t be doing any more due to it affecting my health. I will not be going to Guinness now and making it official.”
The following day he said he was standing by his time after all and was in contact with Guinness World Records.
“All I feel is sour grapes,” he said. “I know my time and so do my support team. If people do not like what I have achieved, that is up to them.”
Andy Nuttall, of ULTRA magazine, who donated money to Mr Vaz’s fundraising page, said: “There is doubt about his attempt – but I’m afraid it’s more than that. A performance of this magnitude would propel Mark to the status of not only the greatest UK ultra runner, but probably the greatest ultra runner who ever lived.”
Mr Vaz took up marathon running after his wife Tammy suffered a series of miscarriages, and has raised more than £3,500 for the baby charity Tommy’s and Katharine House Hospice, in Staffordshire.
A Guinness World Records spokesman said: “We welcome Mark to continue with his application and submit his evidence for review.”
When The Daily Telegraph contacted Mr Vaz, his wife said: “We are taking legal action. I’m not speaking to anyone.”