World Record Breaking Sydney Marathon

21 Sept 16

Last Sunday 18 September, Guinness World Records were broken at the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival. One of the world's most spectacular courses, the festival offers runners the unique opportunity to take in some of Sydney's most iconic landmarks on foot and cross the Harbour Bridge completely traffic free. That's a feat that any Sydneysider will tell you is extremely rare.

In its 15th year, the Sydney Running Festival is a hugely successful fitness and fundraising event that boasts more than 32,000 participants from over 66 countries. Raising funds for a number of local and national charities, the event has raised a total $15,500,000 since its inception. Catering to runners of all fitness levels, the festival features everything from a 4km Family Fun Run to a 9km Bridge Run as well as a 21.09km Half Marathon and the big daddy, the 42.19km Sydney Marathon.

Running from Milsons Point at the north pylon of the Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House or Royal Botanic Gardens, the 42km course is only the second marathon to partner with Guinness World Records. Breaking titles at the marathon were a jester, a monarch, a food supplement and a French maid. Having a bit of fun with the physical challenge, many runners chose to participate while wearing a costume, much to the delight of the crowd.

The first of the four Guinness World Record breakers was Alexander Scherz who flew in from Switzerland only to break his own record for fastest marathon runner - dressed as a jester. Originally setting the record in 2012 at the London Marathon, Scherz completed Sunday's course in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds. Also among the group of record breakers was Joseph Peach, dressed as a monarch, Howard Dawson, dressed as a food supplement and Dominic Sweeney-Nash, dressed as a French maid.