Photos: Japan’s most popular runner races a half-marathon in a suit

というわけで、久喜マラソン大会（撮りに）行ってきました～Σp[【◎】]ω｀*)
スポーツなんて滅多に撮らないので不安でしたが、川内優輝選手のスタートと間近でとゴールのところは撮れたので満足満足～(*´ω`*) #川内優輝 #マラソン pic.twitter.com/ZOLcInHWbo

— えるる＠鷲宮 (@erukuma) March 13, 2016

Known as the “citizen runner” in Japan, Yuki Kawauchi is one of the nation’s most popular sport figures as he balances marathon training with a full-time government job. His widespread popularity may grow even larger after what he did at his hometown race, the Kuki Half-Marathon.

Kawauchi ran the half-marathon (21.1K) in a suit including dress pants, a dress shirt, a sport coat, a tie, and a belt in a remarkable 1:06:42, 18 minutes faster than the Guinness World Record in the event, to finish third in the race. Kawauchi told Japan Running News that the course is not certified and thus is not likely to be considered an official record.

RELATED: Menswear co-founder sets world record for half-marathon in a suit.

American Gihan Amarasiriwardena is the official world record holder having run 1:24:41 at the Happy Holidays Half MerryThon in Massachusetts on Dec. 6. Amarasiriwardena, the co-founder of the suit manufacturer Ministry of Supply, ran the record to bring attention to his company’s line of menswear.

Canadian Nicholas Mizera held the world record prior to Amarasiriwardena.

川内優輝選手、スーツで快走??#久喜#マラソン大会 #川内優輝 pic.twitter.com/6ZgpHYi7xw

— ぴの (@pinobubu) March 13, 2016

Kawauchi is one of Japan’s fastest long-distance runners with lifetime bests of 2:08:14 in the marathon and 1:02:18 in the half-marathon. The Canadian records in the events are 2:10:09 and 1:01:28, respectively.

Though he has never won an individual medal at a major international competition (worlds or Olympics), he remains somewhat of a hero in Japan for balancing work and marathon running. He races frequently, even at small races, giving him plenty of exposure among locals and has represented Japan at the IAAF world championships and the IAAF world half-marathon championships.

川内優輝さん！スーツ姿で爆走中‼︎ pic.twitter.com/GcOwRWrXlN

— ▽・x・▽ tru2 (@M31007) March 13, 2016

The 29-year-old had Olympic aspirations but finished outside of qualifying for Rio 2016.