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5 unusual Guinness World Records broken at 2022 London Marathon

Check out some of the best and fastest record-setters from this year's London Marathon

guinness record Photo by: Guinness World Records
October 3, 2022
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One thing that makes the London Marathon unique is the unusual things you see on the course. Guinness World Records said the marathon saw 34 record attempts, 18 of which were successfully set by runners dressed as mythical creatures or unusual professions–there was even a 2:47 marathon by someone dressed in silk pyjamas. Here are five more unusual Guinness World Records that were broken Sunday.

Fastest marathon in a non-racing wheelchair (female) – 4:32:11

Lexi Chambers, a 44-year-old amputee, who lost her left leg to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), set the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in a non-sport wheelchair, finishing the race in 4:32:11 while supporting Blesma, a charity for limbless veterans.

Unlike the sport-style wheelchair that Para athletes use, which is designed for racing, Chambers covered the 42.2 km in her regular wheelchair–an impressive feat!

Photo: Lexi Chambers/Blesma

Fastest marathon in a six-person costume – 4:25:12

A group of six runners dressed up as a fruit basket and ran the marathon in 4:25:12, securing them the world record for the fastest marathon in a six-person costume. They broke the previous record by nine minutes and pulled off the stunt in support of Brain Research U.K.

I wonder how much they all trained together, and if they wore the fruit costumes during their training runs.

Photo: Guinness World Records/Twitter

Fastest marathon dressed as a harlequin (male) – 3:51:35

Fastest marathon wearing handcuffs (male) – 2:54:57

Southampton, U.K. runner David Henson was the second-fastest costume runner on the day, and had the undoubtedly difficult task of running a 2:54 marathon while handcuffed. Henson told Guinness that he was exhausted once he reached the finish but raised thousands of dollars for Southampton Hospitals Charity.

I do wonder what Henson did at water stations.

Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional human body part (brain cell) – 4:26:43

We aren’t sure what this one is, but Sadie Smith claims she’s a brain cell.

Next year, the TCS London Marathon will return to its spring date, where it used to be before the pandemic, on April 23, 2023.

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