SLO County native sets second world record for running on a treadmill

Cambria native Mario Mendoza has set yet another world record on a treadmill.

On June 6, the internationally ranked ultra marathoner ran 100 kilometers, or, 62 miles, in six hours, 39 minutes, 25 seconds — eclipsing the previous record by an hour and 10 minutes — in Eugene, Oregon.

“I can’t believe it myself. I feel like it’s God and not me,” said Mendoza, who’s also a pastor. “A six-minute, 25-second per mile is mind-boggling for 62 miles. I still can’t understand it.”

On Jan. 14, the Coast Union High School graduate set a record by running 31 miles, or, 50 kilometers, in two hours, 59 minutes, three seconds on a treadmill in Oregon. But that record was broken twice.

Mendoza performs these extremely taxing marathon runs to raise money for the Central Oregon Youth Running Camp he co-founded in Madras, Oregon, near his home.

He told The Cambrian in January that he performs these herculean tasks to “promote diversity.”

“I love these kids,” he said. “I want to help kids believe big things can happen anywhere.”