THE record for running the Isle of Wight Coastal Path was beaten in spectacular style in the week before Christmas. The 71-mile course, from Cowes anti-clockwise to East Cowes, was completed by Island-raised athlete Russ Tannen in 11 hours, 11 minutes and 47 seconds. Tannen, 34, shaved an hour and 13 minutes off the previous record, set in June 2018 by Daniel Williams. Despite competing with mist, rain, heavy mud and darkness at both ends of his run, Tannen averaged six miles an hour for the route the equivalent of almost three marathons. He said: “I ve wanted to have a crack at this for a long time, but probably didn’t make the smartest choice in terms of timing – the second shortest day of the year, following a week or so of rain.