FORMER Royal Marine Lee Riley celebrated his 30th birthday by smashing a world record which has stood for 18 years.
The personal trainer is now the fastest man on the planet over a mile – while carrying a 40lb pack on his back.
Lee Riley
Lee, of Willaston, needed to beat a time of five minutes and 36 seconds set by ex-paratrooper and multi-record holder Paddy Doyle in 1993.
And at the Cumberland sports ground in Crewe, supported by dozens of family, friends and well-wishers – including Olympic gold medallist Ann Packer – Lee knocked 19 seconds off the record, finishing in a time of five minutes, 16.9 seconds.
Speaking straight after his run, Lee, said: "I annihilated it. Over a one-mile distance, to knock 19 seconds off the time is ridiculous.
"I feel fresh. I feel as if I could run it again under five minutes 35 seconds.
"I did far better than I expected."
The former Shavington High School pupil is already the holder of two world records. In April, he completed the London Marathon in four hours one minute while carrying the 40lb backpack, beating the previous record, which had stood for 20 years, of four hours 42 minutes.
Just a few weeks earlier, he had become the fastest to complete a half-marathon – with a 40lb pack – in an event at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Lee, who filled his pack with 40lbs of Mornflake Superfast Oats, completed his latest challenge to raise money for the Royal British Legion. As he crossed the line, he saluted soldiers past and present.
Stuart Kay is chairman of the Crewe branch of the British Legion, and a former paratrooper.
The 57-year-old, of Cavendish Road, Crewe, said: "I think what Lee has done is amazing. He has trained really hard and it has all paid off. We are very proud to support him as a branch."
Ann Brightwell of Congleton, who as Ann Packer won the 800m gold medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, said: "He didn't just break the record, he smashed it. I'm very impressed.
"I had a lift of the backpack and it seemed heavier than 40lbs to me – I wouldn't have liked to run wearing one.
"Lee is a tremendous lad and I can't praise him enough."
Lee's mum Anne, aged 58, of Willaston, said: "I'm very proud of him.
"It's a wonderful achievement, he has worked very hard."
Lee, who trained by carrying out a series of hill runs as well as other endurance-boosting exercises, was sponsored by Aldi, Mornflake Oats and Cheerbrook Farm – which provided Cumberland sausage baps in return for a donation to the Legion.
He next plans to concentrate on improving his sprinting – and will make more record attempts in the future.
Anyone wanting to donate can do so via Lee's website at www.rileyfitness.co.uk
