GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ and FLORA LONDON MARATHON 2009

Blistering Times Achieved at the Hottest London Marathon in Years

London- April 27th 2009 – Sun, sweat, tears, and new world records – this year’s Flora London Marathon had it all.  On a day of stifling heat there were more Guinness World Records attempts than ever in the marathon’s history; over 60 runners took part in 29 official record attempts, and 10 new Guinness World Records were achieved.

Paul Simons (Manchester, UK) set the pace with a time of 2:55:50 breaking the record for the fastest marathon dressed as Santa Claus.  The 45 year postman was ecstatic to break the record and also raise money for the Bliss, a charity dear to his heart after his own child, Alfie, was born 5 weeks early.

Ian Benskin (Loughborough, UK) was the next record-breaking runner.  His time of 3:11:50 saw a new record for the fastest marathon in a film character costume (male).  Ian’s effort was to raise publicity and money for Scope.

Bringing a smile to every spectator - and runner - he passed, was Robert Prothero (Staines, UK).  In full carrot costume, he ran the fastest marathon dressed as a vegetable in a time of 3:34:55.  Robert has raised over £2,000 for his chosen charity, Water Aid.

22 year old Darren Stone (Taunton, UK), or Banana Man as he was on the day, set a new world record for the fastest
marathon dressed as a cartoon character (3:36:07).  Alistair Martin, a 41 year old technical teacher from the Scottish
Borders dressed up as an ostrich and proceeded to run the fastest marathon in an animal costume (male) in a time of 3:42:27.

Irishman Jack Lyons demonstrated the marathon’s sense of humour as well as spirit by running the fastest marathon dressed as a leprechaun in a time 4:22:08.  In a somewhat topical choice of dress, Thomas Day ran the fastest marathon dressed in full suit, complete with bowler hat! The 32-year-old is raising money for Leukemia Research.

One off the most well-received runners this year was Sally Orange (UK).  Dressed appropriately as an orange, Sally had the crowd in laughter as she sprinted through the finish line in a time of 4:32:28 breaking the record for the fastest marathon dressed as a fruit. 

In one of the most gruelling acts of the day Gordan Chaplin, currently serving for the Royal Engineers, completed the marathon with a 40lb back pack on.  Running for  ‘Help for Heroes’ Gordon achieved this in an incredible time of 5:35:19 setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon carrying a 40 lb pack. 

The final Guinness World Records record of the day was a truly special one.  Neal Gardner and his 29 friends from Wales ‘became one’ as they linked themselves together to set the record for the most runners linked (6:18:41)

The extraordinary events of Sunday marked this year’s Flora London Marathon as not only one of the hottest in its
history, but also one of its most special.

27th April 2009