Community Corner

Sweeney Sets New World Record at Hermosa 24

Patrick Sweeney sets the Guinness World Record for longest distance run in the sand over a 24-hour period during the 24-hour soft sand ultramarathon in Hermosa Beach.

For the second year in a row, Patrick Sweeney set the world record for greatest distance run on sand in a 24 hour period after running 94.08 miles during the Hermosa 24 on Saturday and Sunday.

The Hermosa 24 ultramarathon, which started at noon on Saturday and ended at noon on Sunday, pits competitors against a grueling soft-sand-only course stretching from the Hermosa Beach pier to the Manhattan Beach pier. Each out-and-back lap covers 3.36 miles.

Sweeney's run, which consisted of 28 laps, beat his previous world record of 87.36 miles (27 laps), .

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This year's race initially looked to be a showdown between Sweeney and race director Christian Burke, for sand running during the inaugural Hermosa 24 in 2010. However, an injury during the first lap of this year's race eventually caused Burke to drop out after only four laps.

Sweeney, a Manhattan Beach resident, credited his success this year to a familiarity with the course and a little bit of home field advantage.

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"I put more miles on this beach than anyone else ... This event is pretty much tailor-made for me," he said. "You can take some of the best runners in the world and put them on the sand, and they are not going to do well.

Following his final lap, Sweeney's feet were clearly blistered and cracked from the hours of time spent running in the hot sand. To some, it may have looked like torture, but to Sweeney, a few blisters were a small price to pay.

"It is one day of pain. A day is not that long," he said with a smile.

Burke seemed to agree.

"If you are going to do this race in a purist mode, you are going to run barefoot, no matter how hot the sand is," he said. "Your feet fix themselves; your feet heal, but boy do they suffer."

Now in its third year, the Hermosa 24's main goal is to raise money for Hermosa Beach schools. This year, the race raised between $10,000 and $15,000, but Burke hopes to one day write a check to the school district for $100,000, he said.

Next year, in addition raising more money for schools, Burke does have one more goal.

"I can't wait to come back and take my record back," he said.

Race Results:

Solo Men:

  • 1st place – Patrick Sweeney – 28 laps, 94.08 miles 
  • 2nd place – Tatsunori Suzuki – 22 laps, 73.92 miles
  • 3rd place – Alex Mendoza – 21 laps, 70.56 miles  
  • Alex is the youngest solo racer in the event at 16-­‐year old. He bested his previous year’s lap count by three laps.

Solo Women:

  •  

    1st place – Rachel Ragona – 20 laps, 67.2 miles
  • 2nd place – Karen Moore, 17 laps, 57.12 miles
  • 3rd place – Lucinda Jacobs, 14 laps, 47.04 miles
  • Lucinda completed the race in memory of fallen soldiers, carrying a United States Flag the entire event.

Relay Teams:

  • 1st place – Team #10 “Mickey’s Winners”, 39 laps, 131.04 miles
  • 2nd place – Team #16 “Team Annie” – 38 laps, 127.68 miles
  • 3rd place – Team #13 “Team CORE”, 28 laps, 94.08 miles

 


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