Chicago Trio Smashes CTA Record in Under 9 Hours

Three friends stood on a Chicago train platform last November with an ambitious goal: visit every single CTA station faster than anyone in history. Nine hours later, through a freak snowstorm and multiple train breakdowns, they'd done exactly that.

Joabe Barbosa, James Barbosa, and Matthew Plese officially became Guinness World Record holders on December 24 when their time of 8 hours, 58 minutes, and 55 seconds was certified. The trio hit all 145 stops on Chicago's "L" system, making them the fastest people ever to complete the challenge.

"When I saw our plaque, I literally thought of the song 'I'm on Top of the World,'" said Joabe Barbosa, 25, a psychology graduate student. "Me and two other people are the only people in the entire world who have done this."

The team barely paused to celebrate before heading to Atlanta, where they conquered the MARTA system in just over three hours with a new teammate. That record is awaiting Guinness certification.

But these transit adventures mean more than just plaques on the wall. In 2024, Joabe fell into a ravine during a sudden winter storm on Mount Washington, sustaining serious injuries. The experience changed how he views everyday life.

"Going for world records makes life interesting rather than boring," he explained. "Sometimes I go to work and it's mundane, but this makes me look forward to traveling and seeing new things."

The Ripple Effect

Joabe and Matthew are also running every street in Chicago and they're 83 percent finished. Their mission goes beyond personal achievement: they want to prove Chicago is a safe city where people can travel without fear.

"I want to show people that you can go anywhere and feel safe," Joabe said. "It's a tangible way to showcase this beautiful city."

The team has set their sights on Denver and Los Angeles next, but the ultimate prize is New York's subway record of 22 hours, 14 minutes. They're also pursuing quirky records like running a half marathon in soccer cleats while holding a ball and visiting all the Monopoly board locations in London.

Their Chicago record might stand for years: State and Lake station is under construction until 2029, and Guinness rules require visiting every station even when closed, forcing challengers to run there on foot.

For now, these three friends are the fastest people on Earth at something nobody else has even attempted.