From the bizarre to the unbelievable: 8 of the world’s weirdest marathon records

The first London Marathon was run in 1981 and by the event’s second year runners were taking part in fancy dress. This trend is typified by Lloyd Scott who has completed the course in a deep diving suit, dressed as Indiana Jones pulling a boulder and crawling as Brian the Snail from the Magic Roundabout. 

For some, completing 26.2 miles in the capital’s streets isn’t hard enough. Dozens try to set a wacky world record while doing so. Last year, 43 Guinness World Records were set, so there are plenty to pick from. Here are some of the quirkiest. 

1. Fastest group of Maasai Warriors to complete a marathon

In 2008, six Maasai warriors from Tanzania completed the London Marathon in 5hrs 24min and 47sec. This was their first foreign trip. 

2. Fastest marathon dressed as a Superhero

Kitted out as Wonder Woman, admittedly one of the better superhero outfits for running, Matt Grunby ran 2hr 27min 43sec in 2016. Dressed as Spiderwoman, Camille Herron recorded 2:48:51 at the 2012 Route 66 Marathon in Oklahoma, USA. Those are very fast marathon times without a costume. 

3. Fastest marathon in a bomb disposal suit

Iain Church shuffled and stumbled his way to a time of 6hr 28min 6sec in 2015, beating the previous record by nearly three hours. Bomb disposal suits weigh between 44-66lbs / 20-30kg. 

4. Fastest time to run a marathon carrying a 100lb pack

Chris Shirley carried this enormous weight in 2016, completing the 26 miles in 7hr 43min 26sec. Cory Asimus lowered the record to 4:53:07 at the Fox Cities Marathon in Wisconsin, USA, in 2023. 

5. Fastest marathon dressed as a three dimensional bird 

Having run the London Marathon as a two-person canoe and a Dalek (on separate occasions), in 2015 Bob Johnson set the fastest marathon time dressed as an ostrich. His mark of 5hr 55min 8sec was beaten by Jean Baptiste Bourdu at the Los Angeles Marathon in 2017. He ran 5:31:05 dressed as a flamingo. When he walks he moves so fine. 

6. Most pairs of underpants worn during a marathon

Jason Burbury wore 52 pairs of underpants during the 2025 London Marathon. But he only held it briefly. Daniel Byrnes went one better at the Sydney Marathon later that year. 

7. Fastest marathon wearing pyjamas  

At the 2024 London Marathon, Holly Brownlee wasn’t snoozing as she clocked 3:06:18 wearing pyjamas. 

8. Fastest marathon dressed as a videogame character

Running as Chun-Li from the Street Fighter series, Alison Stewart completed the 2024 London Marathon in 3:19:10. Simon Killen donned a Mario costume to set the men’s record of 2:52:57 in the same year.