Which London Marathon record would you most like to break?

There is an ever-growing group of London Marathon runners – from seasoned runners to first timers. Over the last ten years they have not only crossed the finish line but they have done so whilst writing themselves into the record books.

Guinness World Records first partnered with the London Marathon in 2007 and since then a no fewer than 262 world records have been broken, including:

  • FASTEST: Matt Grunby from Cambridgeshire set the fastest Guinness World Records title, clocking up an almost elite time of 2 hr 27 min 43 sec in 2016. He achieved the record in the Fastest marathon dressed as a superhero category.

  • SLOWEST: John Bedford from Leeds has the honour of taking the longest to achieve a world record – and has a good reason for it too. His record is in the 'fastest marathon in a bomb disposal suit category', and he took 9 hr 40 min 01 sec in 2011. His record was smashed by Iain Church (Oxfordshire) in 2015, who took 6 hr 28 min 6 sec.

  • MOST CONSECUTIVE SUB 3 HOURS: The hugely impressive Chris Finill, from Surrey, ran 33 sub-three hour London Marathon races between 1981 and 2013. He was 21 when he started and 54 for his final sub-three effort.

  • HEAVIEST: Chris Shirley took on the gruelling challenge of carrying 100lbs around the 26 mile course in 2016, achieving a time of 7 hr 43 min 26 sec. The former soldier achieved the record in the 'fastest time to run a marathon carrying a 100lb pack category'.

  • LOUDEST: The Huddersfield University Marching Band marched and played their way around the course in 7 hr 55 min 00 sec in 2011, achieving the record for the 'fastest marathon by a marching band'. The 22-person strong band then shaved almost an hour off their record in 2014, finishing in a time of 6 hr 56 min 48 sec.

  • A JAW DROPPING WORLD FIRST: 2008 saw the charity Greenforce fly six Maasai Warriors from their native Tanzania to the UK, run the London Marathon. It was the first time they had ever left Tanzania. Taking part at the marathon helped the charity raise £114,000, which paid for a fresh water well in the warriors’ village – and the next village along. Having completed the marathon in 5 hr 24 min 47 sec, they also returned to Tanzania with a world record for the 'fastest group of Maasai Warriors to complete a marathon'.

  • WACKIEST: Bob Johnson (58, from the Scottish Boarders) must be the most dedicated and skilled runner the 10 year partnership has seen. He has run 16 London Marathons in a row now, and in 2015 he achieved the record for the 'fastest Marathon as a three-dimensional bird' – an Ostrich costume that really must be seen to be believed – achieving a time of 5 hr 55 min 8 sec. His impressively detailed costumes also include a two-person canoe and a Dalek. Bob can be seen running as a giant Mr Potato head on 23 April.

This Sunday, 73 world records are being attempted, featuring 86 runners. A team of Guinness World Records adjudicators will be on hand to check costumes, verify times and confirm successful runners as official GWR titleholders, earning them a place in the 2018 book out in September.

Which record would YOU most like to break?

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a Star Wars character (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a telephone box

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a chef x5

  • Fastest marathon carrying a household appliance (white goods)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a car (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a nun (female)

  • Fastest marathon in film character costume (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a medical instrument

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male)

  • Fastest marathon in a three-person costume

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a three dimensional aircraft (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a monk (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a telephone box x2

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a fruit (female) x3

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a television character (female)

  • Fastest marathon in a four-person costume

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a snowboarder

  • Fastest marathon in a five-person costume

  • Fastest marathon dribbling two basketballs

  • Fastest marathon in Brownie Guide uniform

  • Fastest marathon carrying a 100 lb pack

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a three dimensional toy (male)

  • Most comments on a Facebook item in 8 hours

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a love heart (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a DNA double helix (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a star

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a Bishop

  • Fastest marathon wearing chainmail (upper body) x2

  • Fastest marathon wearing flip-flops

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a cheerleader (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a dragon (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a tree

  • Fastest marathon in a suit

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a witch (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed in a rugby kit

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a shoe (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a Mr. Potato Head

  • Fastest Marathon in a Toilet Roll Costume (Female)

  • Fastest marathon carrying a 60 lb pack

  • Fastest marathon in a sleeping bag (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a swimmer

  • Fastest marathon dressed in a full body dinosaur outfit (female)

  • Fastest marathon wearing wellington boots

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a monk (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a padlock

  • Fastest marathon dressed as an elf (male)

  • Fastest marathon in a martial arts suit (male)

  • Fastest marathon wearing riot gear (male)

  • Fastest marathon female dressed as a gingerbread girl

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a baby (female)

  • Fastest marathon in a two-person costume x2

  • Fastest marathon dressed as the Grim Reaper (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a framed painting (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a fast food item

  • Fastest marathon in a full-body animal costume (male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a Viking

  • Fastest marathon run by a married couple - aggregate time

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a cartoon character (female)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a mobile phone (female)

  • Fastest marathon in a three-person costume

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a nun (male) x2

  • Fastest marathon with two runners handcuffed together (male/male)

  • Fastest marathon dressed as a French Maid (male)