Hamish Magoffin Breaks Running Record in New York's Central Park

On Saturday, March 8, we shared that Now Frolic would track Hamish Magoffin as he set out to break the record for the Central Park Loop Challenge. Magoffin aimed to break the previous record of 19 loops set by Oz Pearlman, who ran to raise money for Save the Children Ukraine Relief Fund. 

Did Magoffin set a new record? He did.

While Magoffin initially planned to cover 123 miles in 20 laps, during the 19th lap, he decided to focus on breaking the current record time for 19 loops reported by Fastest Known Time. Running from 6:05 AM to 11:34 PM, Magoffin ran 116 miles in 17 hours 29 minutes and 13 seconds, beating Pearlman’s reported time of 17 hours 40 minutes and 59 seconds.

Magoffin is no stranger to running long distances. A a skilled long-distance runner, he has competed in races all over the world including the London Marathon, Sydney Marathon, and Mt. Fuji International Marathon. Magoffin completed the Malaysia Ultra-Trail — a 62-mile ultramarathon with over 16,000 feet elevation gains — in 16 hours, and ran the John O’ Groats to Land's End (JOGLE) route in Britain in just 17 days. That multi-day race covers 875 miles, and participants travel from the north of Scotland to the south of England along a time-worn route.

Running has always been central to Magoffin’s life. In the past few years, the sport has taken on a new meaning. Today, he sets out on these extreme challenges to honor his late wife and son, who he lost to perinatal depression, through his foundation, The Pranaiya & Arthur Magoffin Foundation (PAM). Formed to raise awareness and fund research, the foundation educates about treatment and care for those affected with perinatal depression.

As Magoffin set out to break the current Central Park Loop Challenge record this Saturday, the day was marked with celebration and solidarity. March 8th would have been his late son Arthur’s fourth birthday. 

In anticipation of Saturday’s run, Magoffin presciently set up a spreadsheet for runners in his community to sign up to run a lap with him. When Now Frolic spoke to Magoffin prior to the run, he shared that “having people run with me will ensure I keep the right pace. It’s also great for support.” 

At least one person — often more — ran with Magoffin on each lap. A small crowd of people running in-sync with him was a common sight, highlighting the close-knit, supportive nature of the running community. Run clubs including the Central Park Track Club, Pirates of Sunrise, and New York Athletic Club came together to support Magoffin and put miles toward his mission. 

“When somebody is in need in the group, it’s a no brainer. We were able to do a good thing for someone who is in need. We know the cause, we know what Hamish is running for,” Paul Stanton, a friend of Magoffin’s and fellow member of the New York Athletic Club’s Run Club, told Now Frolic. “There’s nothing anyone can say or do to make it any better, but if we have the opportunity to run behind and just help him, it’s an easy thing to do.”

An athletic brand also got involved. Runderwear, a performance wear brand for runners, provided long sleeve base layers for Magoffin and the other runners.

Runderwear’s CEO and founder Jamie Smalley shared that “Hamish’s determination to complete 19 loops of Central Park and break the record was truly inspirational — an incredible feat of endurance and mental strength. We were proud to support him and the team with Runderwear base layers to keep everyone warm and comfortable throughout. We fully support the foundation in achieving its goals in the future.”  

Many spectators watched and cheered from the sidelines and rang cowbells. Others not able to attend in person were able to track Magoffin’s progress through a live-tracking app from Garmin.

Sláinte Retreats, a local organization dedicated to women’s health and empowerment, assembled a group of members who walked in Central Park to support Magoffin.

Michelle Hackett, co-head of Slainte Retreats, told Now Frolic: “Walking in solidarity alongside Hamish as he took on this record-breaking challenge was a profound experience for our group. It was a reminder that every step, whether running or walking, can contribute to a greater cause. We are honored to have stood with the PAM Foundation in raising awareness for PPD, and we hope this event inspires more conversations and support for maternal mental health."

This year’s Central Park Loop challenge marks PAM’s official launch in the United States to increase awareness and research for perinatal depression. Study and treatment for the illness are especially under-developed in Thailand, where Magoffin lived with his late wife and son. PAM is laser-focused on helping to identify treatments for perinatal depression, and Magoffin is already planning his next awareness event to for June.

Though perinatal depression can affect nearly 15 percent of new mothers, about 50 percent of cases go undiagnosed due to social stigmas and the resulting reluctance of new mothers to report their struggles. 

Speaking about completing the Central Park Loop Challenge on Saturday, Magoffin shared that, “the result on Saturday wouldn't have been possible without everyone's support. I may have been the one running every lap, but there was a large team of supporters that were running and fueling, as well as cheering. Plus, there were those from PAM Foundation who were helping to spread awareness about Perinatal Mental Health. I have been moved by everyone's generosity and it was a lovely day to remember Arthur on what would've been his fourth birthday, as well as Pranaiya.”