Most men cant knit and even more cant run a marathon. But David Babcock does both, at the same time.
A 41-year-old University of Central Missouri graphic design professor set a Guinness world record for longest scarf knitted during a marathon in October 2013. The previous record was set by Susie Hewer during last Aprils London Marathon with a scarf that measured 6 feet, 9 inches.
Before the race in Kansas City, Babcocks goal was to beat Hewer by three feet but he ended up nearly doubling her with a scarf that measured 12 feet, 13.4 inches.
It was his first time running a marathon and it took him 5 hours, 47 minutes and 27 seconds to finish.
Mr Babcock began knitting and long-distance running, separately, three years ago. He decided to merge the two activities since both were a little boring and he thought it would be a “fun challenge”.
Over the years Mr Babcock has developed a system for how he knits while running.
To protect himself from possible injury he uses plastic needles and attaches a stopper at the end so the scarf doesnt fall off.
Hes only fallen once while running and knitting, and that was early on when he wasnt paying attention to a pothole.
He keeps yarn in a fanny pack and only uses acrylic materials since natural fibers absorb sweat.
Mr Babcock, like prior-record holder Ms Hewer, ran Saturdays race to benefit an Alzheimers disease foundation.
“I think it will be great particularly for my kids to be able to say, ‘Dad did it. Dad broke a record. Hopefully that will lead them to their own proud moments,” Mr Babcock said.
許多男人不會織毛線,更多的人不能跑馬拉松,而大衛(wèi)·巴布科克兩樣都會,而且是同時進行。
2013年10月,這名41歲的中密蘇里大學(xué)設(shè)計系教授邊跑馬拉松邊織出了一條長約4米的圍巾,刷新了跑馬拉松時織成最長圍巾的世界吉尼斯紀錄,打破了英國女子蘇西六個月前締造的紀錄。當(dāng)時蘇西一邊跑馬拉松一邊織圍巾,織了一條6英尺9英寸(約2米)長的圍巾。
在堪薩斯州舉辦比賽之前,巴布科克的目標(biāo)是超過蘇西的成績大約3英尺(約0.9米),結(jié)果他織出了12英尺13.4英寸(約4米)的圍巾,幾乎是蘇西織出的圍巾長度的兩倍。
這是他第一次參加馬拉松賽跑,他花了5小時47分鐘27秒跑完全程。
三年前,巴布科克先生開始織毛線、長跑,但兩件事并沒同時進行。當(dāng)他開始覺得有點無聊時,他決定將兩件事合二為一,并認為這會是“一個有趣的挑戰(zhàn)”。
近三年以來,巴布科克先生已經(jīng)練就了織毛線兼長跑的運動方法。
為了預(yù)防可能出現(xiàn)的危險,他使用的是塑料編織針,而且在針的末端夾上了夾子,這樣圍巾就不會從針上掉下來。
他邊織邊跑的過程中只有一次跌倒了,那是他剛起跑不久,沒有注意到地上有坑。
他把毛線裝在腰包里,看起來有些滑稽,而且他只織腈綸毛線,因為這種天然材質(zhì)更吸汗。
蘇西當(dāng)時是要為阿爾茨海默病研究機構(gòu)募款,巴布科克這次嘗試也是希望為阿爾茨海默病協(xié)會募款。
巴布科克先生說:“我感覺非常棒,尤其想到我的孩子們可以說:‘我爸爸做到了,他打破了世界紀錄。希望這件事能激勵他們創(chuàng)造自己的榮耀時刻?!?