Firewalking Resources

 

My experiences of breaking the Guinness World Records for the longest distance walked on fire are very different.  I will share my feelings and what I have learned, hopefully it may inspire you to be the best you can.

I first thought about what it was like to walk a great distance on fire at the Instructor training in Sweden when we had completed a 40 foot walk.  I watched people finish the 40 feet with a great sense of accomplishment and wondered what it must have been like for Amanda Dennison to walk 220 feet.  The record was something that stayed in my mind and the more I thought about it the more I felt it was something I could achieve.  I then decided it could benefit my business and raise money for charity.  The date was set and the plans were put in place.

The day of the record attempt came.  The weather for the previous few days had been very wet, the trucks that were dropping off the wood and turf were unable to get close to the walk area and we had to manually move everything to get it close to the area.  This was extremely time consuming and physically exhausting.  However we all worked hard to get the fire ready.  I look back now and realize that I was too tired and had not eaten or drank enough.

 
I continued with the interviews and getting the event ready.  The fire was lit and still I had not given a great deal of thought about what would happen when I stepped on the fire.  The crowds started to arrive, along with press and the officials.  The fire was raked out and the temperature measured (543 -601 degrees Celsius).  The fire was built to a length of 55 feet.  This meant I had to walk up and down 5 times without stepping off.  I was ready to walk.

I stood looking along the length of the fire and then it hit me.  What if I don't break the record?  I quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind, took a deep breath and stepped onto the fire.  The first 50 feet went well, then I had to make my first turn.  This felt uncomfortable and I lost my concentration.  I carried on walking and with each step my feet became warmer and warmer.  Around the 100 foot mark, I stepped off.  I knew I had blisters on my feet.  I went back to the start and off I went again.

 

The exact same thing happened again.  I now had a huge doubt in my mind and told my wife I didn't think I could do it.  Diane told me I could do it and to try once more.  I now was faced with two decisions, firstly go home with a few blisters and nothing to show for them or alternatively dig deep, ignore the pain and go home a record breaker.

I chose the latter and walked 250 feet.  I probably became the world's most famous firewalker for getting burnt.  I was asked several times after that would I try another world record and I always said, never again.  Once was more than enough.  However you should never say never!

The opportunity then arose for me to go to China to work on the Guinness TV programme.  I first thought it was just to demonstrate how to walk on fire.  As time got closer they told me that my record had been broken and would I like to try and get it back.  I agreed to give it another try.

When I arrived in China, the Chinese people were fantastic.  They did everything for me.  They built the fire and got the wood from local villages.  All I had to do was show them what type of wood I needed and how to build the fire.

The time came for me to walk.  This time I was prepared.  I had plenty to eat and drank lots of water.  My mind was clearly focused with the task in front of me.  The fire was built to the maximum length allowable by Guinness, which meant I only had to turn once.  The temperature was measured (653-671 degrees Celsius) hotter than my first one in the UK.

This time I put on my MP3 player to ensure I had no external distractions.  I was ready to walk.  I stepped onto the fire with one focus; to ensure I got to the end and back again without getting a blister.  I walked faster than my first record, maybe it was due to the music on my MP3 player or maybe it was the excitement.  I felt very different, almost like my first 40 foot firewalk.

I had done it!  I walked 328 feet and did not get a blister.
In conclusion, to break a world record you need to firstly, believe you can.  Secondly, be well hydrated.  Thirdly, walk fast and turn as little as possible on the fire.  Last but not least, have a great support team.  You cannot achieve great things in life without the help of others.