24-Hour Treadmill Run Record: Lars Saetran -- The Running Professor
February 2003 -- Lars Saetran -- The Running Professor
In Trondheim, Norway this past February, 50-year-old Lars Sætran staged his own 24-hour treadmill run for the world record. He succeeded in bettering the then recognized mark of England’s William Sichel, but his 193 km fell short of the total run by Toronto’s David Deubelbeiss. Knut Jegersen interviewed Lars to get his thoughts on his 24 hours on the treadmill. Last fall, Lars read about a 182 km treadmill run by William Sichel from the Orkneys. “I was intrigued (at going for the treadmill record), but attempting (it) wasn’t definite until January. Having run past 200 km twice outdoors (in 24 hours), I therefore decided to go for 200 km on the treadmill. During winter I often go cross country skiing, and run six times a week for a total of 150 km. Previous to the last race preparations, I hadn’t used a treadmill for two years. Fourteen days before the world-record attempt, I ran continuously on it for six hours. I then felt prepared.” Sætran often trains Sunday mornings while his wife is still asleep. “I ran 100 to 150 km weekly as usual in the preceding weeks, including a weekly run to a gas station 15 km from home and back.”
Not an easy ride
The main difference between outdoor running and using a treadmill, says Sætran, is the temperature and lack of air resistance. “I used a cooling fan to get rid of my perspiration. Outdoors, sweat vanishes naturally through wind currents,” explains the professor at the Aerodynamics Laboratories. “I wanted so much the first six hours to be an easy ride, but it never was. It was tougher than I anticipated. I had to work continuously. Like in my first ultramarathon, this race had its ups and downs, but I never felt great bliss or enormous despair.” Looking at it a week later, he feels he should have given more gas. “At one point during the night I felt nausea, and slowed down in fear of a complete stop. I really do feel I should have pushed myself harder. But then again, it was good to have some energy left, as people came by to greet me towards the end.”
The race
Lars ran for the first five hours non-stop before stopping for a food break. “I went off the treadmill and sat down with my feet held high. After that I ate every 20 km. Towards the end it was every 15 km.” His menu was dried pasta (just adding hot water), energy-drinks and Pepsi. “I believe I drank 15 liters, maybe more.” While running, he ate candy bars and bread with chocolate. “After eight hours the production of spit was so limited that swallowing was an accomplishment in itself. But I was o.k. I vomited only one time.” He urinated into a bottle as he ran, and went to the men’s room just once. “You can never predict that, of course,” he underlined.
Ratification
“Now I will send documentation to Guinness and certificates for the treadmill. It was calibrated and a log was written with distances every 30 minutes; the whole run was videotaped. The gym was continuously open to the public. The treadmill was stopped when I had my short breaks.” The run was linked to a Norwegian anti-drug organization. A relay of volunteers ran alongside of him the whole time: for the first six hours schoolchildren, succeeded by Stjordals-Blink soccer club, while the night was filled with leisure runners. Said Lars, “The relay was great, although my focus was mostly on not thinking at all.”
What was worse: the physical or psychological challenge? Lars replied, “The psychological, no doubt about it. You have to torment yourself, but I pushed my body harder during my 223 km run outdoors in 2000. Towards the end of the race, my speed decreased. In the end it was all about finishing. After breaking Sichel’s record after 22.5 hours, I admit I was tempted to stop there, but to me this was a personal success in my eighth 24-hour run.”
California style
Sætran was introduced to ultrarunning during his stay in California in 1995 and 1996. “I was guest professor at Stanford University, and started training with a guy who finished second in Western States that year. I am not a professional runner. When I finished 12th in Wien-Budapest (350 km), the first six were full-time runners. I doubt my fitness is extreme, although I do train six times a week.”
What happened straight after the race? “My wife took me home. I lay down on the couch, ate and slept.
But at about nine in the evening we went to a party at a friend’s house. The following day we went for a walk. For the first time I could not keep up with her,” he laughs. Four days later he attended a spinning class at the gym. “I have suffered many (blisters), and four toenails have fallen off. Apart from that, nothing!”Sætran still believes he will not be 100 percent recovered until April. “I won’t be doing something like this again for a long time,” he said, smiling.
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