Marine, US Army veteran sets record by running 88.67 miles with 40-pound pack in Belvidere

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Veteran runs 88.6 miles carrying 40 pound backpack

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WLS) -- A Marine and Army veteran set a world record to support an organization called Oscar Mike.

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Mark Jones ran 88.67 miles in Belvidere to support the organization that supports injured veterans through sports and outdoor expeditions.

Jones said the previous record was 80 miles while carrying a 40-pund backpack. He aimed at 100 but says he settled at 88.67 miles in 24 hours.

"It was a very specific way to run this knowing that you are going to have different weather patterns... but that's life," Jones said.

"The cause was for Oscar Mike foundation, knowing that my feet might hurt, my legs might hurt, guess what? I can still use them, and I can still push forward with them," he said.

To learn more about the Oscar Mike foundation, click here.

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