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Every start line since 2002.

Marathons, triathlons, Alcatraz, two mountains, a 100-mile run, and the stroller runs behind four Guinness World Records titles. Times and bib numbers come from official results and my own log, so you can check them.

    72 events so far, including 11 marathons, an Ironman, a 100-mile run, 5 starts at Alcatraz, and 4 Guinness World Records titles.

    Plus 6,683 training miles logged since December 2008.

    The four records

    All four set pushing my kids in a stroller. Each one links to its official Guinness World Records page. Photos from each record, and the certificates, are on the photos page.

    No. 1, March 31, 2019

    4:42:49

    Marathon

    Modesto Marathon, Modesto, California. About 200 pounds, kids age 1.

    Guinness record page

    No. 2, July 20, 2019

    1:04:52.9

    10K

    Garden City, Idaho. About 200 pounds, kids age 1.

    Guinness record page

    No. 3, March 20, 2022

    2:19:55

    Half marathon

    Oakland Running Festival, Oakland, California. About 240 pounds, kids age 4.

    Guinness record page

    No. 4, July 29, 2023

    5:34

    1K

    Eagle, Idaho. 301 pounds: a 67-pound stroller and 234 pounds of kids, ages 5 to 8.

    Guinness record page

    Guinness World Records words the category as “pushing a quintuple pram (male).” I call it a stroller.

    The ones that took more than one try

    The results students remember most aren’t the records. They’re the misses that came first.

    The marathon record

    Three marathons in eight weeks. Guinness required 4:45 or faster.

    • Feb 3, 2019Surf City
      5:31:32
      4:45 cutoff
    • Mar 24, 2019Oakland
      4:49:29
    • Mar 31, 2019Modesto
      4:42:49

    The whole story: What to Do the Day After You Fail

    The Alcatraz swim

    A mile and a half from the island to San Francisco, through water I’m scared of.

    1. Sep 2008DNFDidn’t finish
    2. Jun 2010HelpFinished with help in the water
    3. Jul 2010DNFDidn’t finish
    4. May 22, 201147:56First swim with no help
    5. Jul 24, 20111:02:02Did it again, no help
    A quilt made of 49 race T-shirts, including Run to the Lake, Alcatraz, Tough Mudder, Ironman Canada and Rock 'n' Roll San Jose shirts
    My race shirts from 2002 to 2012, made into a quilt. They run in order, oldest at top left to newest at bottom right.

    The full log

    This is my race log, newest first. Pick a type to narrow it down. Races I haven’t logged yet will keep showing up here.

    Photos © Chad Kempel unless noted. To use one, email chad@chadkempel.com.

    Export race log

    202661 training miles

    1. Inaugural Kempel Family 5K Health Run

      Eagle, Idaho

      Our own Fourth of July 5K, run with my wife and the kids. Every finisher got a medal with their name on it.

      With kidsWith wife

      50:47 5K Chad Kempel with his wife and their seven kids on the day of the family 5K

    2025139 training miles

    1. Muddy Dash

      Kuna, Idaho

      A mud run with my wife and the kids.

      With kidsWith wife

      Chad Kempel with his wife and kids, all wearing medals, at the Muddy Dash finish arch

    2. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Ran it with Savannah and Avery.

      With kids

      42:07 5K Bib 569 Chad Kempel with his daughters Savannah and Avery, all wearing race bibs, before Eagle Fun Days

    2024137 training miles

    1. Brentwood Turkey Trot

      Brentwood, California

      Ran it with my wife, all the kids and extended family.

      With kidsWith familyWith wife

      1:08:47 5K 2,080th of 2,144 Bib 639

    2. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Ran it with Savannah and Avery.

      With kids

      40:59 84th overall Bib 82

    3. Girls on the Run 5K

      Treasure Valley, Idaho

      Ran it with Savannah.

      With kids

      5K Bib 452

    2023278 training miles

    1. Golden Gate Half Marathon

      San Francisco, California

      With family

      2:21:24 13.1 mi 2,706th overall, 158th in age group Bib 23866

    2. 1K pushing five kids

      Eagle, Idaho

      301 pounds of stroller and kids. Lincoln and Gabriella held the finish ribbon.

      Guinness World Records titleWith kidsSee the record

      5:34 1K Chad Kempel with his wife and kids after the 1K stroller record in Eagle, Idaho

    2022340 training miles

    1. Eagle Fun Days 5K

      Eagle, Idaho

      With wife

      2:02:45 5K Bib 930

    2. Oakland Running Festival Half Marathon

      Oakland, California

      About 240 pounds of stroller and four-year-olds. Amy rode a bike alongside me for the first time.

      Guinness World Records titleWith kidsSee the record

      2:19:55 13.1 mi Bib 2764 Chad Kempel and his family with the stroller at the Oakland half marathon record finish

    2021423 training miles

    1. VirtualRunners Guinness World Records attempt

      Virtual

      A remote 10K, part of a group Guinness World Records attempt.

      55:11 10K Official attempt Bib A01546

    2. Run Wild at Zoo Boise

      Boise, Idaho

      Ran it with Savannah and Avery.

      With kids

    3. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Ran it with Savannah.

      With kids

      Bib 154

    2019302 training miles

    1. City of Trees Marathon

      Boise, Idaho

      My wife signed up but couldn’t run it, so her bib was transferred to me. I hadn’t trained for it. I’d just been running casually and decided, what the heck.

      4:32:47 26.2 mi 48th of 91 Bib 80

    2. Fit For Life 10K

      Garden City, Idaho

      Second record, about 200 pounds with the kids at age one.

      Guinness World Records titleWith kidsSee the record

      1:04:52.9 10K Chad Kempel and his family with the stroller after the 10K record in Garden City, Idaho

    3. Modesto Marathon

      Modesto, California

      Attempt three. Seven days after missing by four minutes in Oakland.

      Guinness World Records titleWith kidsSee the record

      4:42:49 26.2 mi Bib 176 Chad Kempel and his family with the stroller after the 2019 Modesto Marathon record

    4. Oakland Marathon

      Oakland, California

      Attempt two. Four minutes and 29 seconds too slow.

      With kids

      4:49:29 26.2 mi Missed the 4:45 cutoff Bib 577

    5. Surf City Marathon

      Huntington Beach, California

      Attempt one. I kept going to 27.3 miles, one tenth for each day of the 27 weeks and 3 days Amy carried them.

      With kids

      5:31:32 26.2 mi Missed by 46 minutes

    2017145 training miles

    1. Mt. Whitney summit

      Sierra Nevada, California

      The highest peak in the lower 48. Five years after Shasta.

      9:57 a.m. 14,505 ft Summit

    2014627 training miles

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      My thirteenth one.

      47:42 10K 25th of 252, 2nd in age group Bib 54

    2. The Narrows, top-down

      Zion National Park, Utah

      The whole river, top to bottom in one day, with my brother. Dropped off at the top at 7:53 a.m. and finished at 8:10 p.m., the day after Angels Landing.

      With family

      12:17:00 16 mi Chad Kempel and his brother with walking sticks in the Narrows, Zion National Park, 2014

    3. Angels Landing

      Zion National Park, Utah

      With my brother. Started at 5:15 p.m., reached the top at 6:57 p.m. and was back down at 8:55 p.m.

      With family

      3:40:00 5.4 mi Chad Kempel holding the chains on the Angels Landing trail above Zion Canyon, 2014

    20131,353 training miles

    1. Nike Women’s Marathon

      San Francisco, California

      I ran the whole marathon alongside a friend to support him. I didn’t register, so there’s no official result in my name. We crossed together, so his time is mine.

      5:50:07 26.2 mi Unregistered

    2. 100-mile run

      Castro Valley to San Lorenzo to San Jose to San Mateo to the Golden Gate Bridge

      From my childhood home, past every landmark of my life, to the bridge. I ran it after we lost our twin sons.

      31.5 hours 100 mi Finished Chad Kempel on the Golden Gate Bridge at the end of his 100-mile run, holding a sign with his start and finish times, dedicated to his wife

    3. Santa Rosa Marathon

      Santa Rosa, California

      3:18:37 26.2 mi 148th overall Chad Kempel holding his finisher medal after the 2013 Santa Rosa Marathon, next to a woman holding a Never Give Up sign

    4. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      My twelfth one.

      Personal best

      41:47 10K 7th of 318, 1st in age group Bib 56 Chad Kempel, bib 56, at the start of the 2013 Run to the Lake in Castro Valley

    5. Newport Marathon

      Newport, Oregon

      Personal best

      3:14:25 26.2 mi 59th overall Bib 264

    2012663 training miles

    1. Rock ’n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon

      San Jose, California

      Personal best

      1:35:03 13.1 mi 352nd overall Bib 5300

    2. Tough Mudder NorCal

      Diablo Grande, Patterson, California

      One week after the last one.

      10 mi Finished

    3. Tough Mudder NorCal

      Northstar Resort, Lake Tahoe, California

      10 mi Finished

    4. Tour de Peninsula

      Rode it with my brother.

      With family

      3:07:01 32.9 mi Finished

    5. San Francisco Marathon 5K

      San Francisco, California

      1:13:13 5K 1,205th of 1,221 Bib 4866

    6. Davis Moonlight Run

      Davis, California

      2:52:54 13.1 mi 1,266th of 1,575 Bib 808

    7. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      54:26 10K 119th of 342 Bib 51

    8. Mt. Shasta summit

      Avalanche Gulch, Mt. Shasta, California

      People told me I’d die up there. Jeff and I summited at 10:25 a.m.

      Read the story

      14,179 ft Summit

    9. Oakland Running Festival Half Marathon

      Oakland, California

      2:47:08 13.1 mi 2,928th of 3,479 Bib 3800

    2011501 training miles

    1. Tough Mudder NorCal

      Northern California

      13 mi Finished

    2. Ironman Canada

      Penticton, British Columbia

      Swim 1:23:09, bike 7:30:26, run 5:55:26. Raised $10,355 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and crossed the line with a cardboard sign: Anything Is Possible on one side, For My Dad on the other.

      Read the story

      15:18:36 140.6 mi 2,213th of 3,226 Bib 356 Chad Kempel crossing the Ironman Canada finish line under the 15:18:36 race clock

    3. Escape from the Rock, swim only

      Alcatraz to San Francisco

      Two months after my first unassisted crossing. A friend saw my post, said they’d always wanted to do it, and asked me to go again.

      1:02:02 1.5 mi Finished the swim Bib 460

    4. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      45:20 10K 33rd of 308 Bib 51

    5. Alcatraz Challenge

      Alcatraz to San Francisco

      Fourth try in almost three years, and my first swim from Alcatraz with no help.

      47:56 1.5 mi Finished Bib 136 Chad Kempel in his wetsuit at the Alcatraz Challenge finish on May 22, 2011, with the Golden Gate Bridge behind him

    6. Bay to Breakers

      San Francisco, California

      Ran it with my two brothers.

      With family

      1:49:40 12K 23,789th of 43,913 Bib 4546 Chad Kempel, bib 4546, with his two brothers and their finisher medals at the 2011 Bay to Breakers

    7. Wildflower Triathlon, long course

      Swim 45:50, bike 3:42:58, run 2:19:17.

      7:08:38 70.3 mi 1,187th of 1,813 Bib 491

    8. US Half Marathon

      San Francisco, California

      My personal best until Rock ’n’ Roll San Jose.

      1:44:41 13.1 mi 197th of 2,257 Bib 369

    9. Wildflower practice weekend

      Unofficial practice weekend, four weeks before race day.

      7:11:00 70.3 mi Unofficial

    10. Steep Ravine Trail Run

      Marin County, California

      1,850 feet of climbing.

      1:20:04 7 mi 19th of 84 Bib 35

    11. Louie Bonpua Memorial Triathlon

      3:15:00 1 mi swim, 26 mi bike, 10K run Finished Bib 155

    2010732 training miles

    1. California International Marathon

      Sacramento, California

      3:38:56 26.2 mi 1,281st overall Bib 3661

    2. US Half Marathon

      San Francisco, California

      2:05:22 13.1 mi 1,020th of 2,976 Bib 2706

    3. Warrior Dash NorCal

      Northern California

      26:41 3.15 mi 436th of 1,083 Bib 2361

    4. Tough Mudder NorCal

      Northern California

      My first Tough Mudder.

      2:30:00 7 mi Finished

    5. Camarillo Marathon

      Camarillo, California

      3:40:34 26.2 mi 57th of 391 Bib 1129

    6. Ray’s Race 5K

      Put on by the American Psychological Association’s Running Psychologists. I’d finished my MA eight months earlier.

      24:10 5K 39th of 189 Bib 355

    7. Tour de Peninsula

      Rode it with my brother.

      With family

      3:00:00 31 mi Finished Chad Kempel and his brother with their bikes under the Tour de Peninsula arch in 2010

    8. Alcatraz Challenge

      Alcatraz to San Francisco

      Attempt three. Couldn’t finish the swim.

      Did not finish

      DNF 1.5 mi Did not finish Bib 291

    9. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      48:06 10K 44th of 321 Bib 52

    10. Escape from the Rock Triathlon

      Alcatraz to San Francisco

      Attempt two. I finished, but I needed help in the swim.

      3:29:15 1.5 mi swim, 13 mi bike, 4 mi run Finished, assisted on the swim Bib 90

    11. University of Texas at Austin GSA 5K

      Austin, Texas

      Personal best

      19:37 5K 6th overall Bib 913

    12. Napa Valley Marathon

      Napa, California

      3:17:55 26.2 mi 138th of 1,735 Bib 1001

    13. Davis Stampede

      Davis, California

      1:10:57 10K Finished Bib 1730

    14. Waterfront 10 Mile

      1:21:17 10 mi 81st of 177 Bib 297

    2009626 training miles

    1. Run Wild for a Child

      44:39 10K 84th of 867 Bib 1027

    2. Tri For Real

      1:49:06 Sprint 244th of 514 Bib 582

    3. Tri For Fun

      Untimed Sprint Finished Bib 1486

    4. San Francisco Marathon

      San Francisco, California

      3:43:15 26.2 mi 786th of 5,093 Bib 3765

    5. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      44:56 10K 34th of 319 Bib 113

    2008

    1. SERC Alcatraz Invitational Swim

      Alcatraz to San Francisco

      Attempt one. I’m terrified of the sharks in that bay.

      Did not finish

      DNF 1.2 mi Did not finish

    2. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      51:36 10K 76th of 285 Bib 130

    3. Lake Merritt Half Day

      Oakland, California

      10:40:12 50.1 mi 15th of 22

    2007

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      51:12 10K 71st of 253 Bib 63

    2006

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      47:02 10K 35th of 358 Bib 188

    2005

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      49:37 10K 79th of 267 Bib 876

    2004

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      45:38 10K 46th of 346 Bib 121

    2003

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      49:33 10K 78th of 306 Bib 357

    2002

    1. Eden Medical Center’s Run to the Lake

      Castro Valley, California

      My first race ever. I ran it every summer through 2014.

      46:48 10K 58th of 290, 6th in M18-24 Bib 151 Chad Kempel running his first race ever, the 2002 Run to the Lake in Castro Valley

    Nothing logged under this type yet.

    The kids’ race log

    I am so proud of all the kids. They all rode in the stroller for our Guinness World Records. Now all seven line up at the start on their own. They’re amazing kids, and they’re my proof that anything is possible.

    Every race my kids have run, with me or without me, newest first. Tap a name to see one kid’s races.

    1. Inaugural Kempel Family 5K Health Run

      Eagle, Idaho

      All seven kids

      With DadWith Mom

      50:475K The Kempel family, Chad, his wife and their seven kids, on the day of the family 5K

    2. Muddy Dash

      Kuna, Idaho

      All seven kids

      With DadWith Mom

      The Kempel kids with their medals and their parents at the Muddy Dash finish arch

    3. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Savannah, Avery

      With Dad

      42:075KSavannah: Bib 570Avery: Bib 568 Savannah and Avery Kempel in race bibs with their dad before Eagle Fun Days

    4. Brentwood Turkey Trot

      Brentwood, California

      All seven kids

      With DadWith Mom

      5K

    5. Girls on the Run 5K

      Treasure Valley, Idaho

      Savannah, Avery

      With Mom

      5KSavannah: Bib 168Avery: Bib 169

    6. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Savannah, Avery

      With Dad

      40:59Savannah: Bib 83Avery: Bib 81

    7. Girls on the Run 5K

      Treasure Valley, Idaho

      Savannah

      With Dad

      5KBib 451

    8. Superhero Obstacle Fun Run

      Children’s Museum of Idaho

      All seven kids

      Savannah: Bib 097Avery: Bib 095Lincoln: Bib 096Noelle: Bib 093Grayson: Bib 094Preston: Bib 099Gabriella: Bib 098 All seven Kempel kids in superhero costumes with their medals at the 2022 Superhero Obstacle Fun Run

    9. Run Wild at Zoo Boise

      Boise, Idaho

      Savannah, Avery

      With Dad

      Savannah: Bib 39Avery: Bib 88

    10. Eagle Fun Days

      Eagle, Idaho

      Savannah

      With Dad

      Bib 152

    11. Superhero Obstacle Fun Run

      Children’s Museum of Idaho

      Savannah, Avery

      With DadWith Mom

      Savannah: Bib 014Avery: Bib 013 Chad Kempel and his wife in superhero shirts with Savannah and Avery in costume at the Superhero Obstacle Fun Run

    Where the miles happened

    Most of this log runs through the East Bay and San Francisco, where I grew up: thirteen summers at the Run to the Lake 10K in Castro Valley, marathons in Oakland, Napa and Santa Rosa, and every attempt at the Alcatraz swim. The records came later, with my kids in the stroller, in California and Idaho.

    Castro Valley (13); San Francisco (7); Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay (5); Eagle, Idaho (5); Oakland (4); Boise, Idaho (2); Davis (2); Brentwood; Lake Tahoe; Patterson; Kuna, Idaho; Garden City, Idaho; Treasure Valley, Idaho; Modesto; Huntington Beach; Mt. Whitney; Zion National Park, Utah; Castro Valley to San Lorenzo to San Jose to San Mateo to the Golden Gate Bridge; Santa Rosa; Newport, Oregon; San Jose; Mt. Shasta; Penticton, British Columbia; Marin County; Sacramento; Camarillo; Austin, Texas; Napa.

    A lot of these races are in my talks.
    See the talks