SUSIE Chan, inspired by the support of her Farnham Runners clubmates, has broken the women’s world record for distance running on a treadmill.

“It was utterly horrible, but I managed it,” said 40-year-old Susie after her epic 12-hour stint at Kingston University.

Her world record attempt captured the public’s imagination and one of her many supporters through a live YouTube screening was Paula Radcliffe, holder of the women’s marathon world record.

Less than 30 minutes after her treadmill torment, Susie was whisked off to a television studio to appear on BBC Breakfast.

Speaking to the Herald, she immediately paid tribute to those who had supported her.

“The very supportive Farnham Runners turned up in force, along with the wonderful team at Kingston University.”

Twelve hours of treadmill running had been “mentally tortuous,” she confessed. “I’ve run further in the past,” said the ultra runner, “but it’s different when you’re facing a wall and with the motion sickness, and the pressure rather got to me. It was quite stressful and touch and go when I was approaching 70 miles – the target I had set for myself.

“The rules mean you are not allowed to touch anything on the treadmill and if you fall over, it messes up the readings. I was hoping for 70, but faltered towards the end and went to pieces a bit.”

But despite the stress and late crisis, Susie smashed the previous, unofficial record of 66.79 miles in 12 hours set by Kristina Paltén in 2013, as well as the current official Guinness World Records mark of 60.26 miles achieved by Dee Boland last October, with her distance of 68.54 miles. This will remain an unofficial record until she receives verification from Guinness World Records.

She ran the treadmill in the human performance laboratory at the university’s Penrhyn Road campus and the attempt was supervised by Dr Hannah Moir, senior lecturer in health, exercise and physiology, and sport scientist Chris Howe, along with a team of ten sport science and nutrition students acting as timekeepers and witnesses.

The live stream beamed from the university on YouTube had more than 3,000 views, while hundreds of messages of support were tweeted to Susie and projected onto a screen in front of the treadmill to give her an extra morale-booster.

One of the first to congratulate her was the great Paula Radcliffe, who tweeted: “I’ve never watched someone run on a treadmill on my computer until now – Susie Chan you got me! Congrats on your new world record.”

“That was just wonderful,” said Susie. “To have an athlete like Paula Radcliffe following me. Unbelievable.”

She was also backed by television presenter Andi Peters and BBC Eggheads star CJ de Mooi, as well as other competitors from the ultra running circuit.

The clock keeps running during comfort breaks and that cost her ten minutes, while the necessary fluid and food was not particularly scientific – “doughnuts, pizzas, fruit, bananas, all high carbohydrate stuff. I ate while on the treadmill. I slowed down to eat, but kept moving ‘forward’ so to speak.”

How did she feel after running from 7am to 7pm? “Absolutely dreadful. I managed to clamber off and was helped away to rest. But after 25 minutes, it was off by car and train to a Manchester hotel for BBC Breakfast in the morning.

“I was over-tired and the interview was dream-like, but I think it went ok. I’ve been on the One Show before, so I knew what it was like.”

Woking-born Susie Chan, who has lived in Farnham for 11 years, took up serious running only five years ago. “I was new to it and Farnham Runners really helped me with the training. They use wonderful trails in the area.”

A former Farnham Triathlon Club member, she advanced from running to ultra, or extreme, events, including Ironman UK and the terrifying Marathon des Sables, the equivalent of six normal marathons run in the Sahara Desert, which she has completed twice, the first time in 2013 and then last year when she finished in the elite field.

Susie Chan works at University College in London, where she is an exhibitions manager, and combines training with the daily commute by running from her Wrecclesham home to Farnham Station.

Her links with Kingston University came about after she took part in a research study conducted by Chris Howe examining the physical and psychological effects of endurance running on competitors. Ultra endurance running – classed as any distance over the traditional marathon – has become increasingly popular, with a large rise in the number of races and events. “Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we’re now looking at the factors that make an ultra-distance runner, how their bodies adapt over time and what pushes them to do it, said Mr Howe.

Helping with the new women’s treadmill world record had been incredibly rewarding, said Hannah Moir. “Susie’s achievement showcases the importance of top athletes having access to research expertise and state-of-the-art facilities. It’s also a tremendous way for our students to enhance their learning by being involved in such a high-profile activity.”

Last year, the university provided heat acclimation support to athletes training for the Marathon des Sables, including explorer and adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

Susie has celebrated her treadmill triumph with her family, husband Shaun and 14-year-old daughter Lilly, and friends, but is already lining up her next ultra challenge – the Jungle Ultra in Peru this June.

This will involve running 250 kilometres through the Peruvian jungle with a heavy pack on her back, yet she can’t imagine anything more tougher that the treadmill challenge. “Running on a treadmill against the clock to beat a world record? – it doesn’t get harder than that.”