Guinness World Records(TM) at the Virgin London Marathon 2011

LONDON, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Guinness World Records, the official authority on record-breaking, today confirmed that 35 new Guinness World Records were achieved at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon; more than at any time in the event's history. 150 runners were provided with on-the-spot verification as they attempted to break records ranging from the Fastest Marathon Juggling a Football to the Most Rubik's Cubes Solved Whilst Running a Marathon.

Superman, AKA David Stone from Exmouth in Devon, flew through the finish line in a time of 2 hours 42 minutes and 46 seconds, smashing the record for the Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Superhero in the process. Hot on his heels was Sheffield's Jon Morgan who, dressed as Fred Flintstone, recorded a time of 2hours 46minuted and 59seconds breaking the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Cartoon Character.

Male runners wearing 'female nurse' uniform always go down well with the marathon spectators, but Kevin Harvey, a 36 year-old physiotherapist from Birmingham, proved no laughing matter with a finish time of 2hours 52minutes and 26seconds, breaking the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Marathon in a Nurse's Uniform. Arguably the most impressive run on the day came from Carl Creasey who attempted the Fastest Marathon Carrying 60 lb pack. A Sergeant serving in the Royal Marines, Carl from Ipswich achieved an agonising new record in a time of 4hours 50minutes and 56seconds.

Marathon stalwart John Sandford Hart from Mudeford achieved two Guinness World Records with Fastest Marathon Completed on Crutches - one leg (6h 24m 48s) and Most Marathons Completed on Crutches (6).

Germany's Uli Killian achieved a new Guinness World Record for the Most Rubik's Cubes Solved Whilst Running a Marathon (100 solved in 4hours 45minutes 43seconds), while a team of 47 runners led by David Whillans showed true team-work by making it round the course in 7h 28m 43s to take the record for the Most Runners Linked to Complete a Marathon.

One of the final Guinness World Records achieved on the day also provided the most jubilant celebrations. 7 hours and 55 minutes after the marathon officially started, a band consisting of 20 musicians crossed the finishing line and achieving a new Guinness World Record for the Fastest Marching Band, having played for the entire 26.2 mile course.

Full List of Guinness World Records Achieved on the day:

    
    Record Category                   Name                     Time

    Fastest marathon in superhero
    costume (male)                    David Stone              2h 42m 46s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    cartoon character                 Jon Morgan               2h 46m 59s
    Fastest marathon in a nurse's
    uniform (male)                    Kevin Harvey             2h 52m 26s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    book character (male)             David Ross               3h 02m 30s
    Fastest marathon in an animal
    costume (male)                    Martin Indge             3h 04m 00s
    Fastest marathon in police
    uniform                           Paul Swan                3h 09m 52s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    fairy (male)                      David Hellard            3h 10m 56s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    jester                            Alexander Scherz         3h 11m 57s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    Viking                            Ben Afforselles          3h 12m 11s
    Fastest marathon wearing a gas
    mask                              Andy McMahon             3h 12m 11s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    fairy (female)                    Emily Foran              3h 20m 52s
    Fastest marathon dressed as
    television character (male)       Simon Bryant             3h 21m 22s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    sailor                            Subhashis Basu           3h 24m 12s
    Fastest marathon in an animal
    costume (female)                  Barbara Stcherbatcheff   3h 42m 11s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    gingerbread man                   David Smith              3h 42m 20s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    lifeguard                         David Bayley             3h 44m 33s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    fruit                             Mike Barton              3h 45m 42s
    Fastest marathon dressed as an
    astronaut                         Darren Cox               3h 53m 21s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    bottle (male)                     Gavin Rees               3h 53m 26s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a nun Ben Bradley              4h 00m 28s
    Fastest marathon carrying 40 lb
    pack                              Lee Riley                4h 01m 17s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    Roman soldier                     Les Slinn                4h 05m 34s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a
    vegetable (female)                Julie Tapley             4h 06m 17s
    Fastest marathon in a wedding
    dress                             Eleanor Franks           4h 11m 01s
    Fastest marathon dressed as a Mr.
    Potato Head                       Peter Barlow             4h 17m 38s
    Fastest marathon carrying 60 lb
    pack                              Carl Creasey             4h 50m 56s
    Fastest married couple            Jez Mancer (2:35:36) and
                                      Lucy Mancer (3:02:00)    5h 37m 36s                                    
    Fastest parent and child same sex Kelvin Amos (3:12:04)
                                      and Shane Amos (2:51:03) 6h 03m 07s
    Fastest parent and child mixed    Richard Collinson
                                      (2:45:26) and Libby
                                      Collinson (3:36:39)      6h 22m 05s
    Fastest marathon completed on
    crutches (one leg)                John Sandford Hart       6h 24m 48s
    Most marathons completed on
    crutches                          John Sandford Hart       6 marathons
    Fastest marching band to complete
    a marathon                                                 7hr 55m
    Most money raised by a marathon                            Total amount
    runner                            Steve Chalke             TBC but 
                                                               already over
                                                               GBP1.8m
    Most Rubik's Cubes solved running                          100 cubes in 
    a marathon                        Uli Killian (Germany)    4h 45m 43s
    Most runners linked to complete   Scope team led by David  47 runners in 
    a marathon                        Whillans                 a time of 7h
                                                               28m 43s

About Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer's Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year.

Note to Editors:

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SOURCE Guinness World Records