Italian Runner to Break Guinness Record in Iran Desert

An Italian runner plans to have his name appear in the Guinness Book of Records by running 80 kilometres in Iran’s Loot Desert in 70-degree temperature.

Mo’een Afzali, the Iranian agent of Italian adventurer Paolo Venturini, says his client is set to arrive in Gandom Beryan (literally toasted wheat), the hottest spot of Loot Desert on July 30.

According to a Farsi report by Mehr, Gandom Beryan in Loot Desert is globally known for its burning heat. As the world’s 25th largest desert, Loot is a large salt desert in Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces in southeast Iran. 56 metres above sea level, it is the lowest region of the country.

Afzali, who is also the manager of a tourism agency in Loot Desert, said Venturini has picked June 30 because on that day the temperature in Gandom Beryan rises to 65 to 70 degrees.

Two Guinness experts will accompany the Italian runner to record his 80-km run on the earth’s hottest surface. Meanwhile the event will be captured by a cameraman from Italian satellite TV channel Sky Sport.

Venturini’s decision to run 80 km in Loot Desert is a result of last year’s marathon during which a number of foreign runners including him ran in the Loot Desert.

“After last year’s marathon, Venturini decided to record his name in Guinness book as a Loot Desert runner,” Afzali said.

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