Pastor sets walking record with shopping cart on his back

By Charlie Fenton

A pastor has set a world record by walking 24 hours with a 30kg shopping trolley on his back.

James Baker, 40, walked around a 400m track at Stanley Park Sports Arena, in Blackpool, Lancs, a total of 200 times - a staggering 49.7 miles (80km) - for the challenge.

To achieve the feat - the greatest distance carrying a shopping trolley in 24 hours by a male - Guinness World Record adjudicators told him he had to walk within 24 hours with a trolley weighing a minimum 30kg.

He had a 22kg family-sized Morrisons trolley on a wood-carrying harness strapped to his back that contained 'typical weekly shop' items such as pasta sauce, squash, kitchen roll, and fabric softener to reach the weight threshold.

The Campus Pastor for Kings Church started at 1 pm on April 8 walking until 11 am April 9, finishing early after suffering from nasty blisters on the soles of both of his feet.

James, of Kings Church, Blackpool, is still awaiting official confirmation from the record company and is now currently submitting evidence.

He said: “I'm incredibly proud of the achievement - it certainly isn't something you do every day.

"I held a very strong and consistent pace throughout the first 14-15 hours, I walked for 45 mins which was around 10 laps and then had a 15-minute break.

"Then I developed a severe blister on the base of each foot, which then made it feel like I was walking on glass for a good 6 hours.

"My pace slowed right down from 9m 30s p/km to around out and 15m p/km.

"I decided to call it at around 11am, and with those present, we did a victory final lap together which was really nice.

"You can stop and start as many times during the attempt so me finishing early isn't a big deal.

"Plus it isn't like, I don't think, anyone will be attempting this soon anyway!

"We just need to submit the evidence to Guinness World Records and get their adjudication and official sign off.

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"I'm feeling confident with an awesome team on the day that ensured everything happened exactly how it should."

James' record attempt is believed to be the first of its kind.

The idea for the shopping trolley came from a men's walking event up the tallest mountain in Wales, Mount Snowdon, for Blackpool Community Grocery - an initiative tackling food insecurity across the seaside town.

James said: "One of the walkers on the trip said I should use a trolley for the walk.

"It was a perfect idea really as we wanted a visual way of showing what I wanted to raise money and awareness for."

He trained for it over a three-month period stating in early 2026, adding in a treadmill walking session wearing the harness loaded with 45kg plates alongside his normal weekly cardio and weight training workouts.

Though he said his job working as a gardener was the secret weapon to building strength and fitness.

He said: Over the winter I had a job removing tree tubes so carrying heavy equipment and being on my feet for eight hours a day really helped."

He also carried a trolley full of shopping to the top (and back) up Mount Snowdon, which was supported by volunteers from Kings Church.

He said the hardest bit of the challenge was at around 3 am when the crowd thinned out and his feet started hurting.

James said: "Throughout the day it was lovely, around 18 degrees and friends and family were walking alongside me.

"But when it got to around 3 am the temperature dropped and it was a little lonely on the track, but I had to push through."

Alongside the feat he also raised money for Blackpool Community Grocery.

So far, he has raised over $3,000.

James also holds the Guinness World Record for the farthest distance pulling a vehicle in 24 hours, covering 32 miles (51.499 km).