Jogglers Go Head-to-Head for New Guinness World Record 5K
Posted Thursday, 28 August, 2008
Toronto (August 28, 2008) – Torontonians Michal Kapral (aka “The Joggler” and editor-in-chief of Canadian Running Magazine) and Simon Hodge (aka “The Eco-Joggler”) will hit the track tomorrow (Friday, August 29) at 4:20 p.m. during the Canadian Running Magazine 5K Joggle Off at University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre for an the all-or-nothing duel in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest joggling 5K.
Joggling is the sport of running while juggling three objects in a traditional cascade pattern. The current 5K Guinness World Record of 16:55 was set by Kirk Swenson of the U.S. back in 1986. This 5K battle of the jogglers is sponsored by Canadian Running Magazine, who provided funding for the rental of the Varsity Centre. The record attempt will have two witnesses and two official timers and the race is open to the public. A small donation from spectators to the World Wildlife Fund would be appreciated.
Hodge, an 18-year-old Runnymede Collegiate Institute graduate, is currently attending the University of Western Ontario. His personal bests on the track include 8:58 in the 3K and 9:47 in the 3K steeplechase, where he placed 8th at the junior nationals. In 2007, Hodge won the Longboat Toronto Island Run 5K on Centre Island in 16:16, but that day he also spotted Kapral joggling the 10K race. Inspired by Kapral and bored with his usual cross-country long runs, Hodge decided to spice things up and joined the rare ranks of the competitive joggling elite.
In addition to his editorial duties at Canadian Running Magazine and his reputation as Toronto’s “Joggler”, Kapral currently holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest joggling marathon in 2:50:12 and the fastest joggling 10K of 36:27. He won the Toronto Marathon in 2002 with a personal best time of 2:30:40.
Canadian Running Magazine is available at Sport Chek, Running Room stores, in most Shoppers Drug Marts and at all major Canadian airports. Canadian Running Magazine is also sold at independent retailers across Canada (please visit www.runningmagazine.ca for a complete list).
For subscriptions, please go to www.runningmagazine.ca or call 416-927-0774.
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