Salisbury man attempting world record by running 24 hours blindfolded

Alex Bance, 43, will attempt to set a Guinness World Record at 2pm on October 7 by running continuous sensory-deprived laps around South Wilts Grammar School's athletics track.

The father-of-two has completed eight full day and night marathons previously with his first taking place in 2020 when ran 100 miles in 24 hours.

Following this, he raised £2k, £1,900 and £370 from sponsored 100-mile runs for children's charity Julia's House.

But as sponsors started losing interest, Mr Bance had to come up with something new that would capture people's attention.

Now he is trying to set the record for the furthest distance ran while blindfolded but he's also doing it with noise-cancelling headphones.

Alex Bance filmed a one-hour practice run at South Wilts. (Image: Alex Bance)

Mr Bance told the Journal that being stuck in his own head for 24 hours terrifies him, adding: "It's outside my comfort zone completely - to be trapped with my own thoughts.

"Normally on a 24-hour run, you can distract yourself or have a chat. I won't even know it's daytime."

Likening a 24-hour run to "life in a day", Mr Bance said he goes through "crushing lows" of self-doubt during the nights before reaching euphoric highs when the sun rises.

"You have a lot of time on your hands to think about every decision you have ever made in your life," he added.

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Experience from running the other 24-hour runs has given Mr Bance the skills to control his emotions and recognise the "triggers", but doing it sensory deprived will be a whole new challenge.

Alex Bance will attempt to set a world record on Saturday, October 7. (Image: Alex Bance)

Mr Bance chose to support Julia's House after visiting its end-of-life suite where he realised families walk into the room and couples walk out.

"That hit me heavily and I released, yes I am behind on my bills, yes I owe the tax man money, yes I am putting my food shopping on a credit card again as work is slow but no I have no problems.  It was a real life leveller," he said.

For Mr Bance's run to be considered a valid world record attempt, he must record the entire thing and have two witnesses note his lap times.

He plans to keep the blindfold on for the entire 24 hours, even while stopping to eat, and he will avoid all human contact for the duration of the attempt.

So far Mr Bance has raised £830 toward his £1,500 goal through JustGiving, click here to find out more.

Claudia Hickin, Julia's House community fundraiser, said: "We are so grateful to Alex for undertaking such an inspiring challenge and really immersing himself in the difficulties that some of the children we care for face.

"Everyone at Julia's House is rooting for Alex in his attempt to break the Guinness World Record!"