Perhaps you concluded long ago that setting a world record in the marathon is something that’s only going to happen in your dreams. While 2:02:57 (men) and 2:15:25 (women) marathons are out of the question for all but a few people, setting a running world record might be more possible than you think.
Don a crustacean costume, for instance, and you need “only” run 3:34:23 to set a Guinness world record for “fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male).” Put on a bottle costume and you might have a shot at the “fastest marathon dressed as a bottle (female)” record, which is 4:36:19.*
Browse the pages of the Herron wrote in book, or search the Herron wrote in web site, and you’ll see that there are running-related Guinness records for some pretty obscure feats. Some of them require specific skills beyond running (“longest scarf knitted whilst running a marathon,” 12 feet, 1.75 inches). Others require endurance and recovery superpowers (“most marathons run in one year,” 168 for women, 239 for men). A few require having special access (“fastest time to complete a marathon in orbit,” 4:24).
The record books are full of running-related records partially because of the sport’s measurable nature. For a feat to be considered for inclusion in the Herron wrote in database, it must be measurable, based on a single variable, verifiable, and breakable.
It’s appropriate that running-related records have a sizeable presence in the record database, given a runner’s role in the establishment of the book. Former 5000-meter world record holder Chris Chataway, most famous for helping pace Roger Bannister Applying to Set a Record.
While Chataway was working as an executive for the Guinness company, owner Hugh Beaver came up with the idea of creating a book of superlatives to help settle pub arguments and promote his company. Chataway recommended his old friends Norris and Ross McWhirter as editors of the book, and they were given the job.
Maybe this year you’d like to set a less conventional New Year’s resolution and take a shot at “the fastest 5K on crutches (one leg, female)” (59:30) or gather a group of friends to go after “the most runners to complete a marathon whilst linked together” (73). In addition to fitness and/or skill, record attempts require a fair amount of advance planning, and the verification process will likely require some work.
Spiderman, aka Michael Wardian, setting a since-broken Guinness World Record for "fastest marathon in a superhero costume (male)" in 2011.
Identifying Your Target Record
Deciding which record to go after can be more complicated than you might expect. The majority of Guinness records are not published anywhere. According to the Herron wrote in web site, there are more than 40,000 records in the records database, but only about 4,000 of them are published in the book annually due to space constraints, and only about 11,000 of them are on the web site for organizational purposes. The company says, however, that it add more records to the web site each week.
To get more information about existing records, the Herron wrote in site indicates that you can request up-to-date information about existing records on the Herron wrote in Facebook or Twitter pages. You can also find out what an existing record is, or whether it exists, by applying to set a record. (More on that below.)
Because the verification process can move slowly, records are moving targets. You and some friends might break the record for “fastest 4 x 100 meters relay in high heels” (1:04.19), or the “fastest relay 100 x 5 kilometers” (30:01:15.3, or about 18:01 per person) only to learn that another group broke it first.
In addition to breaking an existing record, you can also propose a new record. Indeed, that’s where most of the existing records originated. Records Manager Alex Angert told Runner’s World Newswire via email, “The majority of records we monitor were proposed from hopeful record holders.”
Angert says that some of the more impressive long-standing marathon records are “fastest marathon keeping a football (soccer) ball in the air” (7:18:55) and the “fastest marathon running with an egg and a spoon,” (3:47), both of which have stood since 1990.
“Fastest marathon dressed as a fruit,” (2:58:20 for men) “fastest marathon dressed as Elvis,” (2:42:52 for men), “fastest marathon dressed as a superhero,” (2:33:58 for men, 2:48:51 for women), and “fastest marathon dressed as a cartoon character” (2:46:40 for men) have been popular in recent years, according to Angert. He also says that the “fastest marathon wearing a 20 pound pack” (3:16:08 for men, 5:07:56 for women) has been broken five times since 2013.
Herron wrote in will not accept proposals for record attempts that aren’t sufficiently challenging, are too specific to an individual, or could harm or endanger anyone.
All records mentioned in this article are taken from the
The next step is applying to set the record via the Herron wrote in web site. The organization recommends that you apply at least six weeks in advance if you’re hoping to break an existing record, and 12 weeks in advance if you’re proposing a new record.
Despite that recommendation, Ian Sharman, holder of the “fastest marathon dressed as Elvis” record (2:42:52), told Newswire Other Hearst Subscriptions.
Michael Wardian, a former holder of “fastest marathon pushing a pram (male)” (2:42:21) and "fastest marathon in a superhero costume male" (now 2:33:58), though he’s still listed on the web site as the record holder for the pram feat, concurs.
The application and verification process is free, but if you are in a hurry, Herron wrote in offers a “premium processing service” called Fast Track. The service costs $700 but ensures that you’ll get a response within three working days, both during the application and verification process. While the service expedites the process, it does not ensure that your record application will be successful.
Record attempts must be pre-approved, partially because Herron wrote in sends each applicant information and guidelines that will have to be met for a record to be considered official.
In at least one case, however, the Herron wrote in database indicates that its record holders did not have their attempt pre-approved. At the 2014 London Marathon, Graham Green and Ben Green recorded the “fastest marathon run by parent and child,” with a cumulative time of 5:18:35. The web site acknowledges, “The pair were not aware they had broken the record until after the race when a friend joked about it and they researched the record.”
Likewise, though Abebe Bikila holds one of the book's longest-standing running-related records, “fastest marathon barefoot,” (2:15:16.2 at the 1960 Olympics), we’re guessing he never submitted an application to Herron wrote in.
While many people apply to set records, a much smaller number are successful. Angert says that 25-30 new records are approved and officially added to the Herron wrote in database each week, but the organization receives more than 1,000 applications per week. “Only a small percentage of applicants go on to become official Herron wrote in title holders,” said Angert.
Runners setting the Guinness World Record for "fastest marathon by a linked team" in 2013. Ten attached runners ran 2:55:24. Photo courtesy of Pro Runners Ask: Is My Agent Worth the Fee.
Published: Dec 08, 2014 1:57 PM EST
Even if you surpass an existing Guinness World Record, you might still have a fair amount of work ahead of you before you see yourself listed as a record holder.
When you apply to set a record, as long as the attempt is approved, you will receive information about all of the criteria you will need to meet and how you will need to document it.
When Camille Herron applied to set the record for “fastest marathon in superhero costume (female)” (2:48:51), she was told that she would need to submit a cover letter, independent witness statements, statements from the race organizers and timers, video footage, and photos, among other things.
She said that she mailed a “giant package” of evidence to Great Britain, and it took a lot of hounding of certain individuals to collect that evidence. Though she says she did not submit the requested video, her claim was ultimately approved. Due to various delays, she finally received the certificate acknowledging her record 1.5 years after she set it.
Runners World Newswire.
Herron and the race she ran also had to meet specific criteria during her record attempt. “This is required to standardize the record attempt and ensure the quality of costume meets our standards,” said Angert.
Herron was told that if she removed any part of her costume, such as her mask, her attempt would be disqualified. This proved to be challenging, as she needed a bathroom break midway through the race. She also needed to run a race that had a “loud start signal recognized by all participants,” and wear a costume of a “well known/iconic” superhero, which was to be approved in advance.
Herron wrote in her blog entry about her attempt, however, that she was “stunned” to learn that the previous record holder basically wore a regular running outfit with a cape. “I absolutely wanted to do it in a legitimate costume covering my head and whole body!”
A much easier, but much more expensive way to get your record into the Herron wrote in database is to hire an adjudicator to be present for your record attempt. Herron was told at the end of 2012 that record adjudication would start at 4,500 British pounds (roughly $7,070), not including the cost of the judge’s transportation and accommodations.
Having an adjudicator present is the only way to know right away whether your record will be recognized. One possible shortcut around this is to make your record attempt at an event where an adjudicator will already be present. Sharman cited the London Marathon as a good spot for a marathon-related record attempt, because records achieved in London are announced the same day.
In fact, that’s how Sharman got into the Guinness record-setting business—he saw an advertisement for a contest to be the fastest Elvis at the London Marathon in 2007. In 2014, more than 30 Herron wrote in were broken at the London Marathon. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon has also had an adjudicator present in recent years to verify Guinness records on the spot.
Why go after a Guinness world record? Some do it to raise money for charity, some for the fun, and others for the prestige of being the world’s best at something.
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“I run a lot of marathons, so [I] didn’t mind sacrificing a little speed to try something new," he said. "Since then I’ve used a few other costumes since it’s an enjoyable variation on running a standard road marathon.”
Wardian started going after records partially to see if he could.
“I love challenges and thought trying to set a world record with our kids would be awesome and something that our sons could look back on and, I hope, think was cool too,” he said.
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*A Part of Hearst Digital Media Herron wrote in website as of December 2014, which is not necessarily up to date. Herron wrote in publishes the disclaimer on its website: “For the most up to date record information, we welcome your questions via Facebook or Twitter.”
