Alice Johnston and her three sons, Angus, Archie and Ollie, are attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘fastest half marathon run by a mother and three children’ at the Sutcliffe & Co Worcester City Runs on 13th September. The attempt is in memory of their late father and husband, Rob, an eye surgeon who died 10 years ago to the week of this year’s Worcester City Half Marathon. Worcestershire Royal Consultant Anaesthetist Alice Johnston and her family will be joined at the race by several of Rob’s siblings and friends.
Alice, Angus, Archie and Ollie are also raising money in support of Medical Aid for Palestinians during their training, a cause they are deeply invested in, owing some of their altruism and sense of justice to their late father Rob. They have already smashed their £5,000 fundraising target, equalling more than £100 for every year of Rob’s life.
Rob was an avid runner and charity fundraiser, completing multiple marathons across the world and raised thousands of pounds for charity alongside his own father.
“I love nothing more than running with my kids,” says Alice. “Whilst training we have covered so many topics, quoted from favourite films, sung silly songs. We’ve had so much fun and I’m so proud of them. Their dad would be blown away and so so proud, and also amused by our crazy aim.”
“Running is a family compulsion for us,” says Archie. “There’s few times I feel as close to my Dad as when I’m out training with the rest of the family. This fundraiser is a way to remember him in some of his most joyful moments while furthering his values of humanity and compassion.”
The current Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon run by a mother and three children was set at 8 hours, 8 minutes and 52 seconds in 2024. The finish times of each family member are added together to get the final total. For Alice and her sons, getting to the start line injury-free is as important as the attempt on the day.
“This will be my first half marathon,” says Angus. “I’m proud of me and my family for doing this and especially proud that we are raising money for the people of Palestine in the process. We ran one race as a family of 5 when I was 3 years old. It was a 1 mile Christmas fun run and by all accounts I walked a lot of it. I’m excited and nervous for Worcester!”
Alice, her sons, their family members and thousands of others will be lining up on the start line of the Sutcliffe & Co Worcester City Runs in a month’s time.
“I’ve run many half marathons, including 2 with Archie,” says Alice. “But I think this is going to be the most special of all. When the going gets tough I will have Rob in my mind. He loved a quote by Murakami that ‘Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.’
“Since his death I have often drawn on it when things have been tough both physically and mentally. I can’t help but think that the resilient people of Palestine adopt a similar way of coping during this intense period of adversity and we as a medical family are in awe of the humanitarian work carried out by MAP, MSF, UNICEF, and other agencies working in the area. We hope for peace.”
Donate to Alice, Archie, Angus and Ollie’s fundraiser here
The team at the Sutcliffe & Co Worcester City Runs wish the family all the best for their upcoming challenge, and good luck to all runners raising money for an important cause or charity.
