Belfast-based academic Stephen Cochrane sets fastest marathon time ever in bizarre Guinness Book of World Records costume category
A Portadown man has broken the Guinness World Record for fastest marathon dressed as a scientist at the London Marathon.
Stephen Cochrane, 36, an academic at Queen’s University Belfast, said the time he was aiming to beat was 2:55:40, officially clocked in at 2:48:51.
Dr Cochrane studies “synthesis of antimicrobial peptides” at the university, and was one over 50,000 people running the 26.2-mile course through our capital – the biggest number of participants ever.
Mr Cochrane said: “The lab coat gets sweaty, heavy and you overheat very quickly. By halfway I was really struggling.”
His was one of many bizarre records which Guinness monitors.
Simon Killen, 46, from Holbeach, broke the record of 2:57 for fastest video game character.
Mr Killen, who has run five marathons, achieved the feat dressed as Mario and set his personal best. He said: “The last couple of miles were a struggle but managed to keep the cramp at bay.”
Warren Parish, 41, from Cannock, has beaten the Guinness world record for fastest marathon dressed as a cheerleader, adding to his accolade of fastest half marathon dressed in the same outfit. Mr Parish, who has run 20 marathons, said: “It put a lot of pressure getting this one because I had the first one.”
All four winners of the elite races will receive £44,000, with the runner-up receiving £24,000 and third place £18,000.
There were 30 seconds of applause before the race in memory of last year’s elite men’s race winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car accident in February at the age of 24.
The winner this year was Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya (aged 27) with a time of 2:04:01, followed by Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia at 2:04:15.
Two UK competitors were next: Emile Cairess at 2:06:46 and Mahamed Mahamed at 2:07:05.
The fastest women were: Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya (aged 30) at 2:16:16, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia at 2:16:23, Joyciline Jepkosgei, also of Kenya at 2:16:24 and Mergutu Alemu, also of Ethiopia at 2:16:34.
Marcel Hug won a record fourth consecutive London Marathon men’s wheelchair race.
The Swiss ‘Silver Bullet’, aged 38, clocked 1.28.33.