For 24 hours, Raimonds Bergmanis stood in the middle of a rain-soaked football field in Riga, Latvia and talked into a microphone. He spoke while 3,845 people ran circles around him. The runners had volunteered to each run 100 metres around the Daugava stadium track, in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record, and had come from all over Latvia (and some from Sri Lanka) to run the 24-hour relay race. The previous record of 1,848 was held by Singapore, and some Latvians thought that breaking this Guinness World Record would be a nice gift for Latvia's 90th birthday.

So on Saturday, October 18th at 11:00 in the morning, three-time Olympian Raimonds Bergmanis, Latvia's veteran star of The World's Strongest Man competitions and friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ran the first 100 metres to begin the marathon. Then he took the microphone, and for the next 24 hours, announced, described, cheered, commented, interviewed and applauded every one of the 3,845 runners as they passed a baton to one another after completing a 100 metre stretch in the attempt at a record-breaking run.

The runners were of all ages and walks of life. Mothers with kids on their backs or in buggies, pensioners in natty track outfits, present and former Olympians, foreign and defense ministers, TV and radio stars and entire families with their pets. People from small towns and local companies wore special t-shirts and carried flags, while others ran in business suits and bear hats. Some danced, some ran backwards and some made ballet leaps along the track. One 65-year old man ran his 100 metre stretch and then continued to trot around the track for most of the next 24 hours.

Raimonds Bergmanis introduced almost every one of them, shouting into his microphone as he trotted his barrel-like body from one part of the stadium to another. When he started on Saturday morning the sun was shining, and the organizers knew they had been blessed by ideal conditions. As the hours went on and it grew darker and colder, Raimonds continued to cheer the runners and introduce them to a constantly changing crowd of friends and well-wishers. Raimonds' comments were being broadcast live on the SWH Radio web site, and he gave constant interviews to radio and TV. He continued coaxing, encouraging and energizing the crowd through the night even when the chill set in and the rain came on. By Sunday morning, the Daugava stadium was being drenched by an increasingly vigorous downpour, but Raimonds Bergmanis seemed unfazed by the rain. Although his voice had long gone and now was reduced to a croaky growl, Raimonds continued to exhort the runners and their fans.

When the 24-hour clock ran out, and the last of the record-breaking runners crossed the finish line, Raimonds Bergmanis was still there, rain dripping from his knit cap, microphone glued to his rain-soaked hand, congratulating the last runner of the relay.

For the more than 4,000 who participated in this unique event (runners plus organizers, witnesses and fans) this may or may not turn out to be a Guinness World Record. The results still have to be tallied, registered, submitted and verified by Guinnesss. But it was a fun-filled birthday party and quite a show for all who experienced it. And without a doubt, Raimonds Bergmanis, who organized, led, started, announced, and closed the show, has added a new title to his long list of accomplishments in strength and endurance. He is clearly the strongest (and nicest) showman on earth.