A number of impressive new Guinness World Records titles were achieved at Blackmores Sydney Running Festival in Australia on Sunday as four dedicated runners took on the 26-mile marathon in costume.
 
Sports psychologist Alexander Scherz from Switzerland broke his own record for the Fastest marathon dressed as a jester (male), crossing the line in an impressive 2 hr, 59 min and 54 sec.
 
Alex Scherz Fastest marathon dressed as a jester
Alex Scherz receives a certificate from official Guinness World Records adjudicator Solvej Malouf
 
The 43-year-old bettered his previous time of 3 hr 1 min 56 sec that he achieved at the Virgin London Marathon four years ago.
 
Speaking to Guinness World Records ahead of his attempt, Alexander said he chose the jester costume because his surname means ‘joke’ in German and he thinks that the event in Sydney was his 55th marathon.
 
Next across the line was Howard Dawson (Australia), who earned the title Fastest marathon dressed as a food supplement (male) in a time of 3 hr 3 min 52 sec.
 
Howard Dawson Fastest marathon dressed as a food supplement
 
Finishing the gruelling course in a time of 3 hr 37 min 25 sec, 24-year-old Aussie student Dominic Sweeny-Nash achieved the Fastest marathon dressed as a French Maid (male) – having never trained in his costume before.
 
Dominic chose to support mental health charity Black Dog Institute while running his first ever marathon.
 
Dominic Sweeney-Nash Fastest marathon dressed as a french maid
  
Joseph Peach (Australia) proved he was king of the track after completing the Fastest marathon dressed as a monarch (male) in a time of 3 hr 59 min 29 sec.
 
Fastest marathon dressed as a monarch
 
This is the first year that Guinness World Records has partnered with the marathon’s organisers, enabling participants to attempt records and receive on-the-day verification from an official adjudicator.
 
Guinness World Records adjudicator Solvej Malouf, who was on hand to officiate the attempts, said: "This was such an exciting day. There is such a buzz here and the crowd has been loving our costumed runners. Fingers crossed we can build on this momentum next year."
 
Guinness World Records will be at the Berlin Marathon this Sunday, where two devoted runners will be attempting to break the record for Fastest marathon run by a married couple (aggregate time).