Guinness World Records at the 2024 Berlin Marathon
When you (quite literally) gear up for a marathon, you’ll want to lace up in some comfortable running shoes – perhaps with a carbon plate – and wear some lightweight, tried-and-tested kit that wicks away sweat, stays in place and protects you from painful chafing. After all, that’s what we’d recommend.
However, there are some runners who like to think beyond the box when it comes to their marathon kit list. These are the marathoners who don weird and wonderful costume creations in the hopes of seizing a Guinness World Records title with their 26.2-mile run – and there were many on the start line of the 2024 Berlin Marathon on Sunday (29 September).
On the 50th anniversary of the race, eight individual runners and one married couple achieved Guinness World Records titles alongside their medals at the finish line, situated just beyond the famous Brandenburg Gate. These ambitious runners included YouTube personality Hibiki Kowada, who became the fastest male to run a marathon in a martial arts suit when he clocked an impressive 2:59:49.
‘I am from Japan, and I want to spread the greatness of Japanese karate and martial arts to the world,’ said Kowada, who was the speediest runner to set or shatter a Guinness World Records title in Berlin this year. ‘In Japan, it is customary to learn martial arts from a young age.’
Kowada was soon followed by Thailand’s Kanchanasevee ‘MiYu’ Charinya, who crossed the finish line in 3:10:55 to become the fastest female to run a marathon while wearing school uniform. In fact, this was Charinya’s second successful Guinness World Records attempt, as she claimed the title for the fastest female to run a marathon in traditional Thai dress at the 2023 London Marathon.
Many runners in Berlin also used their record attempts to raise money for charity and highlight causes close to their hearts.
One such runner was Canadian Karen Michelsen, who – thanks to her marathon endeavours on Sunday – is now the fastest female to have completed a marathon dressed in an inflatable costume. The costume in question? A red-and-white get-up that took the shape of a Coronavirus, complete with a spike-shaped hat.
‘During Covid, I was one of the Charge Nurses working in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada,’ said Michelsen, ahead of her attempt. ‘It was the Covid Command Center for the province of Ontario. This attempt at a new Guinness World Records title will show people that you can take a negative experience and make it positive, fun and interesting. Personally, it does combine two of my favourite things to do: running a marathon and dressing up in a costume.’
Records in Berlin
This year marked the sixth time that Guinness World Records had teamed up with the Berlin Marathon to adjudicate and celebrate record-breaking achievements at the globally renowned race, which is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
But that’s not all – a trio of Guinness World Records titles were bestowed on the Saturday (28 September) at the Berlin Inline Skating Marathon, too. A permanent fixture in the weekend-long Berlin Marathon schedule since 1997, the Inline Skating event is the largest of its kind in the world and sees around 5,000 skaters cover the iconic 26.2-mile course on wheels, just one day before the runners take to the stage. This year’s skating feats included the world record for the largest team – which was 144 skaters strong – to complete the race.
‘It has been great to adjudicate at this year’s Berlin Marathon on its 50th anniversary year,’ said Lena Kuhlmann, the official adjudicator for the Guinness World Records. ‘It’s always amazing to see the excitement for record-breaking from participants and spectators alike. Our runners and skaters have shown amazing commitment to their races, with some of them also managing to raise thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.’
While this year’s world records were racked up by amateurs, previous world records accomplished in Berlin include those of the elite variety. Perhaps most notable are the ‘Fastest time to run the Berlin marathon (female)’, which was won by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa in 2023 when she clocked 2:11:53 to also scoop the women’s marathon world record, and the ‘Most wins of the Berlin Marathon by an individual (male)’. This record is held, of course, by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who has won the race five times.
The Guinness World Records
Here are the 12 marathon records that were set or broken over the weekend in Berlin, out of 13 attempts:
Berlin Marathon
Sunday 29 September
Hibiki Kowada: Fastest marathon in a martial arts suit (male) – 2:59:49
Kanchanasevee Charinya: Fastest marathon in school uniform (female) – 3:10:55
Jochen Glasbrenner: Fastest marathon dressed as a mobile phone (male) – 3:41:09
Benjamin Gutt: Fastest marathon in a onesie (male) – 3:43:10
Gianluca Tortora: Fastest marathon dressed as a Spartan warrior (male) – 4:01:23
Teerawut Pattaragsol and Sasipean Pattaraosol: Fastest marathon by a married couple in traditional Thai dress (aggregate) – aggregate time of 9:40:10
Rene Gauthier: Fastest marathon wearing a dirndl (female) – 4:18:56
Monika Tischbierek: Fastest marathon in a Tanzmariechen dress (female) – 4:56:59
Karen Michelsen: Fastest marathon dressed in an inflatable costume (female) – 5:10:21
Berlin Inline Skating Marathon
Saturday 28 September
Jochen Glasbrenner: Fastest inline skating marathon in a suit (male) – 1:25:31
Edwin Pope: Fastest marathon on roller skates (male) – 1:44:24
Simone Saeger and Der Rollenshop Team: Largest team to complete the Berlin Inline Skating Marathon – 144
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