Marathon effort to run into the record books
Posted by: electime 14th April 2026
Sotiris Georgiopoulos aiming for the record books at the London Marathon
Electricity staff from UK Power Networks are powering up their training for the London Marathon – with one of the company directors aiming to run into the world record books!
Sotiris Georgiopoulos, who is an experienced marathon runner, is planning to tackle the 26 miles dressed in full protective safety equipment, hoping to get into the Guinness Book of Records. While most runners strive for aerodynamics, his outfit will include a hard hat, goggles, hi vis jacket, all on top of a flame-retardant boiler suit – and he’ll carry a volt meter for the whole route.
The firm’s operational engineers and field staff wear such kit daily and Sotiris wants to pay tribute to the company’s 3,500 colleagues who put safety first while working with electricity. Marathon organisers said he could try for the record of ‘fastest male electrical engineer’ if he can break four hours thirty minutes.
At the same time the East Finchley resident is hoping to raise a healthy amount for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which the company regularly supports.
He knows the going will be tough, particularly if it’s as hot as last year’s event and he said: “The additional layers could make it hard going in the heat and it could get very heavy in the rain, so I’ll be running with extra weight for four hours! I need to think about regularly taking on calories and enough water. Despite that, I’m really looking forward to participating in such an amazing event and raising money for charity.”
Meanwhile he is planning two long runs in the full gear – trialing a new design of protective kit – before Sunday April 26.
Also training hard are his UK Power Networks colleagues:
- Zoe Pryce who works in Maidstone is running her first marathon to raise awareness of 11 Deletion Syndrome which her 13-year-old son Jacob has. She says it’s ‘second to Down Syndrome’ but nobody has heard of it and it affects children in different ways: “I would just like to raise awareness as no-one has ever heard of it and it can make daily life quite tricky and lonely when no-one understands.” Max Appeal: Zoe’s Fundraiser for Max Appeal
- Matt Hogg is also based in Maidstone and will have run two marathons in two weeks. In Brighton on April 12 he ran a personal best, then in London on the 26th he is just hoping to finish! Matt is raising funds for Childs Vision who support children affected by domestic abuse in Kent. https://www.justgiving.com/page/matthew-hogg-1
- Andy Harris works in Crawley and started running last October after a break of 20 years! He is running in memory of his good friend and brother-in-law Mike who died from oesophageal cancer. Heartburn Cancer UK: Andy’s page Living near Southampton Andy said: “The hardest part of training is the time investment – especially when it’s after a long commute and dark and raining. Following a strict plan has made it physically much easier than I expected.”
- Vicki Beresford, who is based in the Ipswich office, is running in memory of her dad who died of cancer when Vicki and her sisters were just 13, ten and five. She says it’s her first, and probably last marathon! She has never run more than 10k but wants raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospital to say thank you for his care. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity: London Marathon 2026
- Luke Perkins who lost his mother to cancer last year is running for the Sammy Jo Brandon Foundation for Children with Cancer Sammy Jo Brandon Foundation is fundraising for Children with Cancer UK. Luke is from Hadleigh in Essex and works for the company at Purfleet. He has never run a marathon and has a slight foot injury but says even if he has to walk he will finish the 26 miles!
- Steve Nguyen is based in East London, loves running and says cold, dark and wet winter mornings have been ‘character building’. He has entered the London Marathon ballot for the past five years and this is the first time he has succeeded. Previously he ran the Berlin and Chicago marathons. Steve says he will be happy to arrive at the start line with his hamstring behaving and no new injuries, after an early problem during training.
Jack Powell is based in Hemel Hempstead and is a regular triathlon competitor, but London is his first marathon. He said: “I have been running on and off from a young age when I used to compete for Borehamwood Athletics club but have not done strictly running events for some time.” He has set himself the target of finishing within 3 hours and 30 minutes.”
https://justgiving.com/page/sotiris [justgiving.com]
