A New Zealand mother of two has turned one of the most common pains of parenthood into a world-record-setting feat. Gabrielle Wall has officially set the Guinness World Record for the “fastest 100m barefoot on LEGO® bricks,” completing the excruciating dash in just 24.75 seconds.
The record-breaking attempt, which took place on a running track covered in tens of thousands of LEGO bricks, was inspired by a personal health scare and a desire to do something fun and memorable with her children. Wall had initially planned to do the attempt with her kids, but Guinness World Records guidelines stipulate that the record must be attempted by individuals over 18 years old.
“Like any parent knows, standing on one bit of stray LEGO is pretty rough, let alone tens of thousands of them,” Wall said. She described the feeling of sprinting across the plastic bricks as being like “the world’s worst foot massage,” but credits her “training” as a mom for preparing her for the challenge.
The record wasn’t just about a one-time painful sprint. Wall trained for months, walking barefoot everywhere she went and even setting up a blow-up pool filled with LEGO bricks in her garage to acclimate her feet to the pressure and pain. While the run itself left her with a few superficial cuts, she said the most significant damage was done during her extensive training.
Wall’s incredible display of pain tolerance and determination has earned her a spot in the record books and the admiration of parents worldwide who have all experienced the uniquely agonizing sensation of stepping on a stray LEGO brick in the middle of the night.
