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A cream cracker to a massive squirrel – the 71 London Marathon record attempts

The London Marathon takes place on April 23 this year.

Danielle Desouza
Saturday 15 April 2023 19:01 EDT
(from left to right) woman wearing wellies and another wearing a squirrel outfit to try and break a GWR (Guinness World Records)
(from left to right) woman wearing wellies and another wearing a squirrel outfit to try and break a GWR (Guinness World Records)

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Seventy-one people are to put their best foot forward in order to break London Marathon Guinness World Records – including DJ Adele Roberts who hopes to run the fastest marathon with an ileostomy, and a ‘cream cracker’ on legs.

With the marathon taking place on April 23, many participants have tried their best to make their presence known, often through dressing up in quirky outfits, to break Guinness World Records (GWR) for charities close to their hearts.

BBC Radio 1 weekend Breakfast Show DJ Adele Roberts is hoping to raise awareness during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, following a surgery to remove her bowel 18 months ago and less than a year after completing chemotherapy.

She is to attempt the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon with an ileostomy (female), with currently stands at 4:00:00, and to show that you can bounce back after having cancer.

“Training has been tough, but it’s also made me feel like I’m getting my life back together and has been amazing for me mentally,” she added.

Sally Orange, a 49-year-old from Salisbury, is hoping to use her London Marathon GWR attempt for fastest marathon as a savoury food item (female), while dressed as a cream cracker to show that she is “crackers about mental health”.

The former army major was medically discharged after 22 years of service due to her mental health and hopes that her quirky outfit – which she has worn at her local parkrun on weekends – will help to break the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

With a time of 4:15:00 to beat, the GWR veteran does not seem to be phased, as she holds the title for the fastest marathon dressed as a nut (female) which she set in 2019, and she previously held the record for the fastest marathon dressed as a fruit, which has since been broken.

Other record attempts include a senior land and consents officer donning a squirrel outfit to try to beat the GWR for fastest marathon dressed as a mammal (female), a Domino’s Pizza worker dressing up as the fast food restaurant’s iconic garlic and herb dip to try to get the GWR for fastest marathon dressed as a food jar/tub (male), and a family support manager attempting to break the fastest marathon wearing wellington boots (female) record.

Here is a list of all the official attempted London Marathon GWR attempts:

Fastest marathon dressed in pyjamas (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a fisherFastest marathon dressed as a postal worker (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional dinosaur (male)Fastest marathon with two runners handcuffed together (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional aircraft (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional aircraft (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a knight (male)Fastest marathon in a full-body inflatable costume (male)Fastest marathon wearing clogs (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a star (male)Fastest marathon in a Kung Fu uniformFastest marathon dressed as a lifeguard (male)Fastest marathon dressed as reptile (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional plant (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a key (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a road vehicle (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a monarch (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a fairy tale character (female)Fastest marathon wearing wellington boots (female)Fastest marathon by a mascot (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a milk deliverer (male)Fastest marathon dressed in an Australian Football League kit (male)Fastest marathon carrying a household appliance (white goods)Fastest marathon dressed as an insect (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a scientist (male)Fastest marathon dressed in pyjamas (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a postal worker (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a mammal (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a savoury food (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a gingerbread personFastest marathon dressed as a candy confectionery item (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a Christmas cracker (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a badminton player (male)Fastest marathon in highland dress (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional plant (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a mammal (female)Fastest marathon in a toga (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a Christmas cracker (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a book (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a body part (female)Fastest marathon dressed in traditional Thai dress (female)Fastest marathon in a non-racing wheelchair (female)Fastest marathon dressed in pyjamas (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a scientist (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a savoury food (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a heavy-duty vehicle (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a can (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a Lucha libre wrestler (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a lumberjack (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a book (male)Fastest marathon dressed in a safari suit (male)Fastest marathon in a full-body inflatable costume (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a lumberjack (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (female)Most underpants worn during a marathon (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a food jar / tub (male)Fastest marathon wearing a suit and dress shoes (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a pirate (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a glass (male)Fastest marathon dressed as a glass (female)Fastest marathon dressed as a boxerFastest marathon dressed as a vegetable (female)Fastest marathon in a four-person costumeFastest marathon in a two-person costumeFastest marathon dressed as a body part (male)Fastest marathon dressed in traditional Malay dress (male)Fastest marathon in a three-person costumeFastest marathon dressed as a golfer (male)Fastest marathon with an ileostomy (female)Fastest marathon carrying golf clubs (male)

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