Virginia Beach man makes 50K treadmill run in record time

Tommy Neeson, center, celebrates with his daughter Shelby, right, and Town Center Fitness owner Tom Purcell after setting the world record for 50K treadmill runs Friday at Town Center Fitness. (Jason M. Hirschfeld | Special To The Virginian-Pilot)

By Jennifer Jiggetts
The Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH

About half an hour before his 50K treadmill world-record attempt Friday, Tommy Neeson realized he'd forgotten a most important detail.

Adrenaline pumping, Neeson rushed to a computer at Town Center Fitness and printed out an application for his stab at breaking the record.

It wouldn't do to have all his preparation go to waste.

A little warmup, and then he was ready. Four people, poised to witness his attempt, synchronized their stop watches, while Neeson climbed on his machine.

It was 9 a.m., time for him to run for Randi. Randi was Neeson's 2-year-old daughter, who died of cancer in 1999.

Neeson, 38, a Virginia Beach resident, hoped his race would raise $3,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Foundation, which houses families of sick children.

To train for the feat, Neeson ran up to 26 miles a day, and longer distances on treadmills.

"Your stride is a little different when you run on a road or trail," he said. "... On a treadmill, it's a constant pace."

His meals were simple. He had angel hair pasta Thursday night. Friday morning's breakfast was tea and a CLIF bar.

Neeson broke the world record by four minutes and 36 seconds. Video: Watch Neeson break the record on HamptonRoads.tv

That energized him for a strong start. At the 5-kilometer mark, he was 58 seconds ahead of the pace registered by the last man to win the world record for 50K on the treadmill, Derek Lalonde of Canada in 2005. Neeson hadn't broken a sweat - or his conversation with the handful of people gathered around his machine.

After about an hour and a half, Neeson still ran like he could do it all day.

"About 1,500 calories burned already," he said with a smile.

On a treadmill next to him, supporters jogged for 20-minute intervals.

Shelby, Neeson's 13-year-old daughter, sat Indian style across the way, recording times and yelling a ton of "Go Dads!" and "You can do its!".

Halfway through, Neeson's chatter focused on times and distances. He was eight minutes ahead of where the last record-holder was at 25 kilometers. He poured a bottle of water on his head and wiped it off with a towel.

"It's starting to be fun," he said, mopping sweat off his face.

Passing the marathon mark at 2:53.38, Neeson's pace slowed. His head bent slightly, and the talking stopped.

Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf stopped by. The room filled with people, some in shorts, some in business suits, watching and cheering Neeson on.

"You've got this Tommy!"

"Piece of cake, hon! Keep it up!"

Maddie Clement sat on a windowsill pumping a sign that read, "Keep on running!" She and her twin sister, Allie, screamed like they were at a ballgame.

Toward the end, Shelby hopped on the treadmill next to Neeson.

"You've got it dad," she said, giving him a thumbs up.

Neeson took a sip of water and sped up the pace. His stride got stronger and longer.

Then it was finished. 3:34.24. Four minutes and 36 seconds faster than Lalonde.

He smacked his hand on the treadmill and raised both arms in the air in celebration.

"I'm feeling dizzy," he told the crowd.

He drank a bottle of beer and sat down. He took his shoes off, held his left foot out and showed everyone his blistered pinky toe.

"This proves that I broke the world record," he said.

Video: Watch Neeson break the record on HamptonRoads.tv