Photos by Scott Gulledge / Scroll

Student attempts to break world record

Megan Ransom RAN04008@BYUI.EDU Sports Asst. Editor

In an attempt to set a new world record, a BYU-Idaho student plans to run 101,000 stadium stairs in 20 hours and 30 minutes.

Claudiu Bora, a senior from Transylvania, Romania will tackle the stairs Oct. 14. starting at 4 a.m. and ending at 12:30 a.m.

Anyone who has ever run the stadium stairs knows that 101,000 stairs in a single day will not be easy.

To prepare for this feat, Bora works out six times a week for a couple hours each day. Four times a week he lifts weights, and the other two days he does intense cardio workouts.

Bora has tried different challenges in attempt for a world record.

Each time he has started working toward a goal, but things have happened that foiled his plans.

His first endeavor was running on a treadmill. The record holder at the time of the challenge had run 130.82 miles in 24 hours. Bora’s goal was 135 in the same amount of time. About 12 hours into the run Bora’s knee went out, and he was left about 75 miles short of his goal.

Another attempt was to bike and run from BYU-I to BYU in Provo in two days.

This attempt was interrupted because Bora ran into road construction about 75 miles from his goal.

Eventually Bora would like to get into the Ironman competition.

“If I can’t get into the Ironman competition, I’ll go for the treadmill record again,” Bora said.

Bora said he is doing it for the challenge and it’s been his goal to get into the Guinness World Records.

Also, Bora is dedicating this effort to his dad, who is suffering from cancer in Romania, and the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“The hardest part is not the running part, but trying to get people to have the same vision,” Bora said.

Bora would like help accomplishing his dream. He would like encouragement, and somebody at the stadium with him all day to help count stairs or just to cheer him on.

“It really helps to get encouragement,” Bora said.

Bora said that a lot of people seem to be supportive.

“It’s one of my dreams,” he said. “So I’ll do it with or without help.”

Want to set a world record?
The Guinness World Records contains thousands of incredible feats from longest toenails to longest time balancing on one foot (which just happens to be 76 hours and 40 minutes). Here’s how to set your own:

1. Recognize something extraordinary that has world record potential. (This part is key. If you cannot complete step one, do not go on to step 2)
2. Study up on the current world records; make sure yours is truly extraordinary.
3. Guinness World Records have a Web site with a step-by-step process on how to attempt a world record. This site is www.guinnessworldrecords.com
4. Get media involvement. There must be a way to prove that a world record was achieved.
5. It may take a while because of all the hopefuls attempting to get into the book, so be patient.