A total of 95 runners will attempt 84 Guinness World Records titles between them when they line up at the start line of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.
2019 marks the 12th year that Guinness World Records has collaborated with London Marathon organisers to provide the most creative and inspirational fun runners a chance of securing a coveted title.
Records being attempted this year include the fastest marathon dressed as a tent, fastest marathon dressed as a landmark, and fastest marathon in a six-person costume.
Among our runners are Harry Vowles and Tom and Harriet Woolley who are attempting very different records for very different reasons.
Harry Vowles is attempting the record for fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional animal (male), and will be sporting one of the the iconic Save the Rhino rhinoceros costumes.
The 25-year-old was inspired to run for the charity after visiting Kenya twice and learning how rapidly rhino species are declining.
“I saw the rhinos and absolutely fell in love with them,” he explained.
Having not run a full marathon yet, Harry has given himself an extra challenge by running in the costume, which adds an extra 10 kg of weight and does not offer great maneuverability.
“The first challenge is going to be completing the distance, getting myself fit enough to do the 26 miles. Previously I’ve only run half marathon events, this will be my first marathon.”
However the restrictive costume and daunting task hasn’t deterred Harry from his goal.
Siblings Tom and Harriet Woolley, aged 39 and 30 respectively, hadn’t thought about breaking a record until they were discussing it over Sunday lunch, and decided to try and get their name in the Guinness World Records book.
After looking on our records database to see what records they could break, the fastest marathon by a mixed pair of siblings caught their eye.
Both already signed up, they decided to try to break the record at London Marathon 2019.
The pair are keen runners and no strangers to marathons; this year is Tom’s third and Harriet’s fourth.
The London Marathon offers a unique opportunity for runners to receive instant record verification at the finish line, so Harry, Tom and Harriet (as well as our other runners!) can have their record confirmed just seconds after crossing the finish line.
A team of Guinness World Records adjudicators will be on hand to check costumes, verify times and confirm successful runners as official title holders, earning them a coveted place in the Guinness World Records 2020 book.