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Break a record at a marathon

Guinness World Records provides marathon fun runners with the chance to become official record holders at a number of events around the world:

Back to press centre Apply for a record
Get set to break a record during the 2024 TCS London Marathon. 
The deadline to apply for a record during the London Marathon 2024 is: 
Friday 9 February, 
17:00 GMT

On the day

An official Guinness World Records adjudicator will be present at the upcoming TCS London Marathon, taking place on 21 April 2024.

On the day of the event, if your attempt and costume have been approved, you will be notified on how to meet the Guinness World Records team for a costume check before your race begins. 

For the London Marathon 2024, all Guinness World Records runners will be moved to the Green Start if their record attempt is approved for on-the-day ratification. 

This applies also to anyone they are running with.

All the required data of the runners taking part in a multiple-person Guinness World Records attempt must be submitted to the Guinness World Records team before the deadline. These include:

  • full name
  • email
  • date of birth
  • gender
  • record attempted
  • predicted finishing time
  • Photograph of proposed costume

Please note that we will only accept respectful costumes.

For each of these marathon events, an adjudicator will be at the finish line to tell you whether you have successfully achieved the record you are attempting.

This is usually a paid-for service but, for these special occasions, the verification will be carried out for free.

Please note that in order to apply for a record, you must have secured a place at your chosen marathon. Places for the marathon are not available via Guinness World Records.

Fastest marathon dressed as a monarch - Virgin Money London Marathon 2021
Fastest half marathon dressed as a clown - Toronto Marathon 2017

An official Guinness World Records attempt is a great way of enhancing your marathon experience, with the option of raising awareness and money for charity.
Join all the runners who have broken marathon records worldwide in the past editions. 

Who knows, you might make history!

Applications for the TCS London Marathon deadline:
Friday 9 February, 17:00 GMT

How to apply

For your application to be considered, you will need to include the following: 

  • A record title and full description of the Guinness World Records attempt
  • You must include a photograph of your proposed costume with the application
  • A projected finish time in your costume of choice, so that runners can be assigned to correct entry wave
  • Dimensions of the costume or object that is to be worn or carried (including height, width, depth and weight)
  • Applicant’s unique running number allocated via ballot-place confirmation, through a charity or other guaranteed means of entry
  • Projected finish time in the costume you want to wear
  • Should your application be successful, you will be asked to submit a complete a biography form by 11 March 2024. We request a biography so that a complete profile is available of each runner for our own channels and media use
  • If the record title you wish to run for doesn’t exist on our website, you are able to suggest a new title. Please note that runners will not be charged the £5 fee as stated at the beginning of the process. If you have any questions, please make a new application with your proposed title and image of the costume for our records manager to review