George Scholey Smashes Cube Mile World Record with 5:09.25
British speedcuber George Scholey has broken the Rubik's Cube Mile World Record, completing a mile while solving four Rubik's Cubes in an incredible 5 minutes and 9.25 seconds.
The attempt took place on 12 October 2026 at Central Tech Stadium in Toronto, Canada, where George was supported by a team of pacers, timers, videographers and spectators.
His time of 5:09.25 beats the previous World Record of 5:22.75, set by American Jake Hanson in June 2026, by an impressive 13.50 seconds.
The result is particularly interesting to me because I previously held the Cube Mile World Record myself from 2022-2026, making this an event I have followed closely for several years.
What Is the Cube Mile?
The Cube Mile combines two very different disciplines: middle-distance running and speedcubing.
Competitors must run a full mile (1,609 metres) while solving four scrambled 3x3 Rubik's Cubes.
The rules require competitors to solve one cube before each of four laps of a standard athletics track, with the remaining distance completed at the end.
Crucially, the clock continues running while the cubes are being solved.
This means that competitors need to balance their running ability with their speedcubing ability, as time spent solving the cubes is time that could otherwise be spent running.
A fast runner who takes 30 seconds to solve each cube will lose two minutes before accounting for any running time. Equally, an extremely fast speedcuber who cannot run a quick mile will struggle to challenge the record.
The fastest Cube Mile competitors therefore need to be proficient at both disciplines.
How George Scholey Achieved 5:09.25
George's record-breaking attempt was remarkably consistent.
He completed the four Rubik's Cube solves in approximately 37.5 seconds combined, with his fastest solve taking around 8.5 seconds.
His running laps were also extremely quick, with splits reportedly ranging from approximately 67 to 70 seconds.
Unlike an ordinary speedcubing competition, George wasn't allowed to inspect the cubes before starting each solve. Each scrambled cube remained covered until it was time to solve it.
Combining sub-10-second cubing with running laps at that pace is extremely challenging, particularly as the physical exertion from running can make it more difficult to concentrate and execute algorithms accurately.
The result was a total time of 5:09.25, with the four solves and the entire mile completed without stopping the clock.
Breaking the Previous World Record by 13.50 Seconds
The previous Cube Mile World Record was 5:22.75, achieved by Jake Hanson in June 2026.
George's new time represents a substantial improvement of 13.50 seconds.
| Record holder | Time |
|---|---|
| Jake Hanson (June 2026) | 5:22.75 |
| George Scholey (October 2026) | 5:09.25 |
| Improvement | 13.50 seconds |
Perhaps the most impressive aspect is that George is now getting extremely close to the five-minute barrier.
To complete a Cube Mile in under five minutes, a competitor would need to run the entire distance and solve all four cubes in less than 300 seconds.
With George spending approximately 37.5 seconds solving, his running time was roughly 4:31.75, excluding any transition delays.
This demonstrates just how strong his running performance was alongside his cubing.
A Record I Previously Held Myself
The Cube Mile is an event that has particular significance to me, as I previously held the World Record myself.
As both a competitive runner and a speedcuber, it has always been an interesting challenge because it brings together two activities that I have spent a considerable amount of time practising.
Unlike most unofficial speedcubing events, where solving speed is the main factor, the Cube Mile rewards a combination of endurance, running speed, concentration and the ability to solve accurately while physically exhausted.
It has been fascinating to watch the record progress as increasingly strong runners and speedcubers have attempted the challenge.
George's latest performance represents another major step forward, and it will be interesting to see whether anyone can bring the record below five minutes.
George Scholey's Other Guinness World Records
This is far from George's first unusual speedcubing achievement.
He has previously set several Guinness World Records involving Rubik's Cubes, including:
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Most Rubik's Cubes solved in 24 hours: 6,931 cubes, achieved in November 2022.
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Most Rubik's Cubes solved while riding a skateboard: 500 cubes, achieved in 2022.
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Rubik's Cube marathon challenge: George solved approximately 520 cubes while running the 2024 London Marathon, completing the marathon in around 4 hours and 25 minutes.
George is also an accomplished competitive speedcuber, with an official 3x3 personal best single of 4.91 seconds and an average of 6.40 seconds.
His combination of competitive speedcubing ability and an interest in endurance challenges makes him particularly well suited to unusual records like the Cube Mile.
Could We See a Sub-5-Minute Cube Mile?
George's new record raises an obvious question: could someone complete the Cube Mile in under five minutes?
At 5:09.25, the record is now just 9.26 seconds away from breaking that barrier.
There are several potential ways to achieve this.
A competitor could improve their running performance while maintaining similar cubing times, or they could save time by solving the four cubes faster.
For example, four 7-second solves would take just 28 seconds, potentially saving nearly 10 seconds compared with George's approximately 37.5 seconds of solving.
Of course, consistently solving in seven seconds without inspection, while also running a very fast mile, would be an enormous challenge.
But with the record now standing at 5:09.25, a sub-5-minute Cube Mile is looking increasingly achievable.
George Scholey has set an extraordinary new benchmark, and as someone who previously held this record, I am particularly interested to see just how much further it can be pushed.
Congratulations to George on an outstanding achievement!
