"7 Hours, 1 Minute, 58 Seconds: The Story Behind the Record"

In 2023, while serving time at HMP Dovegate, Ben took a chance on something he'd never heard of before: the 3Pillars Rugby Academy. At that point, fitness wasn’t on his radar. Ben had spent much of his life battling drug and alcohol addiction, but something inside him had changed. He’d already lost five stone and, with the thought of making his son proud, he was determined to make lasting changes.

3Pillars Rugby Academy was his first step. He showed up, gave it everything, and something clicked. On the field, Ben's natural ability stood out. But what truly made a difference was the structure, the challenge, and the belief others had in him. A semi-professional from Nottingham Rugby Club, one of the course leaders, became a powerful influence on Ben with his unwavering attitude, discipline, and encouragement.

Then, during the course, 3Pillars Custody Programme Lead, Sarah, handed Ben Redemption by John McAvoy. He devoured the book in two days, and that was the spark that ignited his journey.

Fast forward to September 2024, when Ben found himself at HMP Sudbury, the same prison where McAvoy had once served time. Under the guidance of Mark Sheriff, a PEI who had trained McAvoy, Ben’s commitment to training ramped up. It wasn’t about setting records, it was about pushing his limits. But as his training progressed, both Ben and the gym staff realised he was capable of far more than he ever thought.

Our Post Custody Lead, Fay Dellimore, an endurance athlete herself, sat down with Ben to hear his incredible story.

Q: Ben, you didn’t set out to break a record, so when did that idea start to take shape?

Ben: It all started with a charity event. I was doing 7,000 meters a day on the Concept2 SkiErg for a month, raising £1,000. As the days went on, it started to feel easier. I did some research and discovered the record for 100,000 meters was 7 hours, 22 minutes, and 51 seconds. Honestly, if you’d asked me a year ago if I could break a fitness record, I would've laughed. I was deep into addiction back then, so the thought of doing something like that seemed impossible. But based on what I’d been doing in the gym, I thought, maybe I could actually do it.

Q: I am sure it wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Did you encounter any major obstacles along the way?

Ben: Oh, definitely. Training took a serious toll on my body. Blisters were a major problem. Blood pooling in my feet was another big issue. I had to adjust my foot placement to avoid it becoming a bigger problem, potentially halting my training, and the attempt itself.

Q: You had initially planned to break the record in May, but you ended up doing it in January. What led to that change?

Ben: I was in the middle of a five-hour training session, and at 60,000 meters, the gym staff noticed I was on track to break the record. They had already set up the machine with a memory stick, so all the data was being recorded. After a quick chat, we agreed to go for it there and then! It’s strange how the mind plays tricks with you and right after I made that decision, I was ready to quit just 4,000 meters later. But the gym staff pushed me through that rough patch. They were amazing!

Q: How did you manage to keep your mind from wandering and focusing on the time?

Ben: Food was my biggest motivator. In prison, we don’t have access to much, no sports gels or drinks, so, I was fuelled by plain water, wine gums, oranges, and Bakewell tarts! 

Q: And how did you feel when you knew you knew you had actually done it; setting a new record of 7 hours 1 minute and 58 seconds; just over 20 minutes faster than the precious record?

Ben: To be honest, I didn’t really know how to feel for about two days. I was in shock. Did I really just break a record? I didn’t sleep for 24 hours, even though I was exhausted. My hands were clawed up for days, covered in blisters. But it didn’t fully sink in until a couple of weeks later when some new guys came in from another prison and excitedly told me they had heard about my achievement. That moment made it all feel real.

Q: You've mentioned being inspired by John McAvoy. What about his story resonated with you?

Ben: John McAvoy’s story blew my mind! To think someone could set a record whilst in prison, and use fitness to turn their life around, it made me believe I could do the same. If he could go from a life of crime to inspiring people around the world, surely, I could find my way too. 

Q: Is there anyone in your life who has kept you going when things have got tough?

Yes, absolutely! Sam, who was my girlfriend but has recently become my fiancé. She has been by my side through the good and the bad. I have found that everyone wants to know you when things are going well, but there are very few who stay by your side when life gets hard. I find it unbelievable how loyal Sam has been, and I know I am a lucky man to have her.

Q: What does Sam think about your recent achievements?

Sam says I am a completely different person. She can’t believe how calm I am these days, and she finds it amazing that I have gone from being an unfit addict to a fitness record holder.

Q: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future?

Ben: My ultimate goal is to follow in John McAvoy’s footsteps and do an Ironman. I’ve read that Ironman Lanzarote is one of the toughest, so that’s my target. (Fay shared with Ben that she’d completed Ironman Lanzarote nine times and promised to support him if he takes it on!) But beyond that, I want to use my platform to help others trapped in addiction and crime. Breaking a record in something I once thought was impossible has shown me that anything is achievable. I want to pass that lesson on, showing others, they can turn their lives around too.

Our final thoughts

Ben’s journey from addiction to breaking a world record is nothing short of inspiring. He has proven that change is possible, and with the right mindset, anyone can overcome their past and build a brighter future. 3Pillars is looking forward to supporting Ben to achieve whatever goals he sets for himself in the future.