For the record The straight-line distance from Land's End to John o' Groats is approximately 603 miles (970 km) but passes over a series of stretches of water in the Irish Sea. The distance by road is 874 miles (1,407 km) and takes most cyclists ten to fourteen days; the record for running the route is nine days. Off-road walkers with far too much time on their hands, typically walk 1,200 miles (1,900 km) and take two or three months for the expedition. Cycling The official Road Records Association record for rider on a conventional bicycle is 44 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, set by Gethin Butler in 2001 - but with a name like that can you really believe him? Wheel chair The fastest LEJOG time in a wheelchair was completed in August 2009 by US Navy Pilot Rick Ryan in 8 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes - respect due there. Skateboarding The record time is a rediculous 28 days held by Ben Stiff, who at eighteen, became both the fastest and youngest to complete the 980 miles (1,580 km) journey on a skateboard, travelling around forty miles per day in order to raise money for charity. However press speculation continues to build concerning Richard Walker, who with his electric carbon plated skateboard, is considering the trip following his marriage to Libby Macgregor later this summer. Running The record time for a runner to complete the route, as reported by the Lands End John O'Groats Club, is nine days and two hours, by Andi Rivett. The Laziest Richard Elloway of Somerset, clearly stocked up on bottles of scrumpy, claims to be the first person to complete the journey from Lands End to John O'Groats and back free of charge by local buses, using the English National Concessionary Pass (a free bus pass for people over 60. Allowing free off-peak travel on local bus services throughout England) introduced on 1 April 2008, and the pre-existing equivalent concession for pensioners in Scotland. He completed the first leg of the trip in one week and six hours.[14] The entire journey was completed in two weeks, eight hours and thirty minutes. |
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