A Richmond-based racewalker nearly broke the Commonwealth six-day record in an epic race where he slept just 14 hours over six days.
Richard McChesney finished third in the six-day race in Privas in the south of France from October 23-29.
Racing night and day, Richard notched up 380.4 miles – breaking his native New Zealand’s 500km record in the process and ranking him 14th best in six-day racewalking history.
“If each footstep was one centimetre longer I would have got the Commonwealth record,” the 48-year-old said.
“I’m sure that I have learnt enough from this experience to beat it next year.”
Richard moved to Ham in 2014 with his wife and often trains in Richmond Park.
“I like being away by myself with my own thoughts. For six days I don’t need to think about anything,” he said.
“Normally we have to make hundreds of decisions each day, but when you’re racewalking you don’t have to think about anything.”
Richard lists the 145-mile Grand Union Canal race between Birmingham and London as a further achievement – which he completed without sitting down once – as well as lapping the M25 in 50 hours.
