Nothing matches running in your club vest in a big marathon, but for a few, it’s an opportunity to dress up and target a Guinness World Record.
On Sunday at the 38th edition of the London Marathon 34 unusual records were set, and Eliud Kipchoge’s victory wasn’t one of them.
The fastest of the records set in the UK capital was by Rob Pope from Liverpool, who ran a very credible 2:36:28 to record the fastest marathon in film character costume, dressed up as no other than Forrest Gump.
The 39 year-old’s journey didn’t start or end in London. Pope has been travelling back and forth to America over the last 18 months to recreate Forrest Gump’s run across the country, and at times has clocked up 40 miles a day. Pope now heads back to Arizona this week to complete his quest.
Although fictional, Forrest Gump is a running legend so Pope gets a thumbs up for his efforts. The other 33 new records (see below) that include the fastest marathon dressed as a whoopee cushion and the fastest wearing ski boots, we will leave to you the readers to decide on.
Perhaps along with the British marathon record Mo Farah should have also picked up something for his brightly coloured outfit and arm warmers.
Full list of new Guinness World Records
1) Rob Pope, fastest marathon in film character costume (Forrest Gump) 2:36:28
2) Matt Berry, fastest marathon in a wedding dress (male) 2:55:52
3) Mathieu Lavedrine, fastest marathon dressed as a Star Wars character (male) (x-wing pilot) 3:05:27
4) Joe Gale, fastest marathon dressed as a love heart (male) 3:05:55
5) David Stoneman, fastest marathon dressed in pyjamas (male) 3:07:09
6) Barnaby Hopson, fastest marathon dressed as an insect 3:14:24
7) Terry Midgely, fastest marathon dressed in rugby kit (male) 3:20:16
8) Oliver Hill, fastest marathon dressed as a whoopee cushion 3:20:39
9) Michael Odell & Guy Dunscombe, fastest marathon in a two-person costume (horse and jockey) 3:25:17
10) Carly Furnell, fastest marathon dressed as a cheerleader (female) 3:27:14
11) James Caldon, fastest marathon dressed as a tennis player (male) 3:28:48
12) Rebecca Cesar de Sa, fastest marathon dressed as a lifeguard (female) 3:31:06
13) Amy Shadbolt, fastest marathon dressed as a vegetable (carrot) 3:32:50
14) Alex Morales, fastest marathon dressed as a stationery item 3:33:13
15) Paul Underwood, fastest marathon dressed as a monarch 3:39:10
16) Charlotte Österman, fastest marathon dressed as a zombie (female) 3:39:25
17) Jonathan Carter, fastest marathon dressed as a hospital patient 3:40:38
Nurse practitioner @runawayfrom40 has set a new record for the fastest marathon dressed as a hospital patient at the #LondonMarathon. He was brave enough to let his colleagues choose the costume for him! Finish time: 3.40:38 pic.twitter.com/avX5SxYzcs
— GuinnessWorldRecords (@GWR) April 22, 2018
18) Edward Low, fastest marathon dressed as a padlock (male) 3:51:18
19) Tim Perkins, fastest marathon dressed as a tree (male) 3:52:35
20) Stacey Harper, fastest marathon dressed as Elvis (female) 3:53:56
21) George Rutherford-Jones, fastest marathon dressed as a landmark (male) 3:54:43
22) Marta Kiermacz-Abramek, fastest marathon in a suit (female) 3:57:57
23) Bethan Roberts, Fastest marathon dressed as a dragon (female) 3:58:53
24) Louise Andrews & Neil Sheward, Fastest marathon three-legged (mixed) 3:59:56
25) David Smith, fastest marathon dressed in motorcycle leathers 4:00:11
26) Fiona Betts, fastest marathon dressed in a full body animal costume 4:13:25
27) Victoria Bell, fastest marathon dressed as an emoji (poo) 4:18:06
28) Julie Greenwood, fastest marathon dressed as a fairy tale character 4:24:07
29) Bob Johnson, fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional toy 4:59:30
30) Owen Willis, fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional plant (male) 4:59:39
31) Richard Gray, fastest marathon carrying a household appliance (white goods) 5:49:37
32) Colin Haylock, fastest marathon wearing ski boots 5:52:16
33) Megan Walker, Ceyhun Uzun, Andrew Sharpe, Holly Bishop, Frederick Holland & Richard Scantlebury, fastest marathon in a six-person costume 6:20:48
34) Michelle Frost, fastest marathon on stilts 6:37:38