English club cricketer and endurance athlete Sam Bodoano has completed an extraordinary 62-mile (100km) run from Lord’s Cricket Ground in London to Valley End Cricket Club in Woking, Surrey, in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the longest run-up before bowling a cricket ball.Bodoano, 22, from Worplesdon near Guildford, Surrey, began his run at Lord’s on Saturday and completed the gruelling journey around 14 hours later at Valley End Cricket Club on Sunday. His challenge culminated in him bowling the opening delivery of an 11-a-side match to his father.
Bodoano completes gruelling run in full cricket whites
To meet the requirements for the record attempt, Bodoano had to complete the entire 100km journey in full cricket whites while carrying a cricket ball. He then had to take part in a cricket match and deliver the opening ball. While Bodoano has completed the challenge and believes he has surpassed the existing mark, Guinness World Records has not yet officially recognised the achievement. The organisation’s evidence review and verification process is still under way.A Guinness World Records spokesperson said the application would need to go through the formal evidence review process before the record could be officially confirmed. The review can take around two weeks, depending on the evidence submitted.If confirmed, Bodoano’s run-up would comfortably surpass the previous men’s record of 15 miles. The current holder of the record for the longest bowling run-up (male) is Tom Dunn, who ran 15 miles (24km) from Bethnal Green, in east London, to Wandsworth Common, in south London, in August 2024.
100km challenge raises almost £6,000 for charity
Despite the physical demands of the challenge, Bodoano completed the run for a charitable cause, raising almost £6,000 (Rs 7,64,513) for The Ruth Strauss Foundation, a cancer charity founded by former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss.“I’m very tired, I lost a lot of sleep, but it was all for an amazing cause,” Bodoano said.An experienced endurance athlete, Bodoano has previously competed in the England Hockey Men’s Premier League, completed the London Marathon and Ironman Wales, and finished third in a 112-mile backyard ultra-marathon. He also works as a running coach and content creator.
