New Guiness Record: Kelly Gneiting is the Heaviest Marathoner

At 400-pounds, Kelly Gneiting sets a new Guinness World Record as the heaviest man to finish a marathon.  He completed the LA Marathon last Sunday with a time of 9 hours, 48 minutes and 52 seconds.

Gneitling is 40 years old.  He is  three-time national sumo wrestler champion.  He has a 60-inch waist and weighed-in 400 pounds just before the race.

From a report in LA Times, Gneiting said after crossing the finish line, “I did it but it was hell.  Pure hell.”

I find this a great feat.  Not everyone can finish a marathon and here is a 400-pound guy brave enough to complete it.  He is setting an example to other people out there.  But while many were inspired with what Gneiting accomplished, this feat also came with criticism.  To some, they don’t consider a 9+ hour finish as “running” a marathon.