MEET THE WOMEN BREAKING WORLD RECORDS

WOMAN'S OWN

February 06, 2023

From marathons in sub-zero temperatures to collecting memorabilia, these women tell us how they achieved the weird and wonderful...

I'd never be the fastest, but I could make my marathons unique'

Tiggy Bailey, 56, lives in Gatwick with her husband and fellow runner, Totters.

Strutting in nothing but my running leggings and a pink bra, I grinned. It was May 2010, and I was taking part in Breast Cancer Now's MoonWalk. I was walking for my mum Doreen - she'd spent her life raising money for cancer charities before passing away from liver cancer in 2009.

My mum was my best friend, and I knew I had to do something to honour her memory and all the fantastic work she'd done. As I crossed the finish line, I felt elated. I was shocked at how manageable and enjoyable I'd found it, and knew I had to do it again!

READY TO RUN

After the MoonWalk in 2010, my mind filled with ideas. 'I want to do the London Marathon, I announced to a friend. They were shocked as I'd always hated running. At school, I'd dreaded PE lessons, and after damaging my Achilles tendons playing squash, running was too painful.

Working as an equine vet, I felt more at home riding horses than running myself. But thankfully I found a podiatrist who gave me special insoles, which really helped. So I applied and, amazingly, was accepted. Panting over the finish line, I was closer to the back than the front, but that didn't matter. I knew I'd never be the fastest, but I could still make my marathons unique.

Tiggy in for two marath A friend told me about the North Pole Marathon - set across more than 42km of sea ice. "That sounds incredible, I gasped. I knew I had to do it.

A few months later, I flew to the Arctic straight after completing the Brighton Marathon. Running across the ice in -40 degree temperatures, I was more worried about being ambushed by polar bears than beating my personal best!