How to get into the record books

Norris McWhirter's Guinness Book of Records gave everyone the chance to be a world beater. Here's how to break a record.

The late Norris McWhirter's amazing feats of memory of world records were an inspiration for many in their childhood.

And even if they could never aspire to match his remarkable recall, he and the late Roy Castle inspired a belief in many that they could achieve their own goals.

And while you can't be the first person to climb Everest, nor be the first person in space, given a bit of effort you could still see your name printed in the Guinness Book of Records - if you can run 81 miles with a milk bottle balanced on your head.

Instant world record, just add a runner

If endurance isn't your thing, try completing a mile in less than eight minutes 27 seconds... again with a milk bottle balanced on your head.

These are just two of the 20 records currently held by New Yorker Ashrita Furman - number 20 is for holding the most records.

About a quarter of records in the book are broken each year, which should encourage those hoping to emulate Mr Furman (and each year 65,000 people express an interest in doing just that).

But don't just think you can just put on your trainers and grab the nearest milk bottle.

So you need:

• To contact Guinness World Records. There are very specific rules for each existing record - the size of your milk bottle, for instance.

  It may also be that the category you have chosen has been "retired".

  "We don't recognise largest pet anymore, since it encourages people to overfeed their cats," says a spokeswoman for the firm.

  

  Roy's fireman's carry record was doomed from the start

  If you want to set a completely new record, the company has to agree that it fits certain criteria - that they be "provable, quantifiable and breakable".

• To do a dry run. Mr Furman trains hard - hoping to iron out any problems which might mar the actual record attempt.

  But once he staged a knee-bend record bid in a hot air balloon - which pitched and rolled with every lunge and put Mr Furman off.

• To think ahead. You can make things easier for yourself with a little planning, says Mr Furman.

  He abandoned a 50-hour hand clapping session when it became clear that the location he had chosen was too noisy for the judges to hear his slapping palms. But it took him 15 hours to admit defeat.

• To pick your judges. Guinness World Records needs to verify your attempt.

  They do not send an observer to each bid, so you need to rope in some reputable types (MPs, judges, police officers, minor royals) to see that you keep to the rules.

• Dedication. That's what you need.