PRESS RELEASE: 6th June 2016

SEARCH STARTS FOR THE NEXT WORLD RECORD BREAKING RUNNER

A VIP upgrade is up for grabs for one 2017 Reading Half Marathon entrant that seeks to break a Guinness

World Record. This year’s event saw Scott Forbes, a BA Pilot from Wokingham, run the race in a blue three

piece suit in a time of 1.18.13 - breaking the Guinness World Record for the 'Fastest Half Marathon in a Suit.’

Race Organiser, Sweatshop, is now on the hunt for the next world record breaking runner!

The possibilities are endless for budding participants, with previous records established for running a half

marathon dressed as a whoopee cushion, running whilst hula-hooping, and even the fastest man dressed as a

female nurse, just to name a few! Looking for the most imaginative record to break, Sweatshop is awarding an

upgrade to VIP status for one dedicated 2017 entrant upon validation of their world record attempt.

Judith Manson, Race Director, comments: “It’s fantastic to say the Reading Half Marathon is a record breaking

route and we’d like to continue this fabulous feat in 2017. The 34th event will build on the success of this

year’s race, which saw more than 12,000 runners take on the prestigious course - with many surpassing their

personal best race times and raising thousands of pounds for charitable causes. Being one of the UK’s fastest

and flattest routes, it really is the perfect event to attempt a new challenge!”

If you think you’ve got what it takes, Race Organiser Sweatshop is keen to hear from you. Please contact

events@sweatshop.co.uk informing them of your world record breaking idea. To keep up with the latest race

developments and to secure your place please visit www.readinghalfmarathon.com

~ENDS~

PRESS ENQUIRIESSophie NelsonPromote PR01628 507661Sophie.nelson@promotepr.com

Editor’s notes:

Race organiser, Sweatshop:

The UK’s largest specialist running retailer with shops nationwide. Sweatshop was founded by Olympic

Champion Chris Brasher in 1971, with the aim to give every runner, from absolute beginner to international

athlete, access to the very best equipment, supported by free gait analysis, sports bra fitting service and much

more. Sweatshop’s first responsibility is to the runner and their mission is to help you Be The Best You Can

Be. Sweatshop has been voted the ‘Best Retailer’ by readers of Runner’s World for eight years in succession

including 2014. On top of this the store has been recognised in the 2014 Running Awards as the Best eTailer

and Best Large Retailer.

Sweatshop staff are committed to providing outstanding customer service and to support this Sweatshop

provides an extensive professional development training programme for all their staff including biomechanics,

customer service, breast health and sports bra fitting.`

For more information visit www.sweatshop.co.uk

Sweatshop staff are committed to providing outstanding customer service and to support this Sweatshop

provides an extensive professional development training programme for all their staff including biomechanics,

customer service, breast health and sports bra fitting. The Sweatshop Running Community is free to join and

the free weekly runs open to all ages and abilities see people rewarded for running regularly.

www.sweatshop.co.uk

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Vitality is the new name for PruHealth and PruProtect. Vitality is insurance that rewards you for being healthy.

As well as protecting you when things go wrong with award-winning health and life insurance, it also helps

you lead a healthier life – meaning you don’t have to claim to be able to benefit. It’s the way insurance should

be.

Vitality has partnered with a number of Vitality Ambassadors, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sebastian Coe and Jonny

Wilkinson, who are role models that embody the values of Vitality. They are all using their passion for living a

healthy lifestyle to motivate others to make positive changes. Taking small steps today can dramatically

improve wellbeing over the long-term, regardless of your current state of health.

VitalityHealth and VitalityLife

VitalityHealth is one of the UK’s leading private medical insurers which have pioneered a new type of cover –

Lifestyle Health Insurance. As well as providing first class cover and clinical care for when people are ill, it

focuses equally on prevention and keeping people fit and healthy. It launched in the UK in 2004 as a joint

venture between two large international financial services companies – Prudential plc and Discovery, a South

African listed company operating in the USA, China and Singapore as well as the UK and South Africa

www.vitality.co.uk/health.

VitalityLife was launched in September 2007 as an extension of the joint venture between Prudential and

Discovery. One of the fastest growing life insurers in the UK, it is unique to the current UK protection market,

and its suite of products includes Life Cover, Income Protection Cover and severity based Serious Illness Cover,

additional benefits and Business Protection. By recognising people's efforts to look after themselves,

VitalityLife is able to offer a more comprehensive set of benefits than traditional providers at a very

competitive price www.vitality.co.uk/life.