Check out these 7 bizarre running World Records!
1. Fastest Marathon Running Backwards
2. Fastest Half Marathon Hula Hooping
Betty Shurin, known as Betty Hoops, ran the Hollywood Half Marathon in 2012 in a time of 3:03:48, hula hooping the entire course. She never touched the hoop and it never dropped—she even stopped often to dazzle the crowd with her tricks. Betty also has the 10K record, 1:14, set at BolderBoulder in 2008.
3. Most Distance Covered in 12 Hours on a Treadmill
A hedge fund analyst by day, 35-year-old Chris Solarz went to the Fitness Factory Health Club in Edgewater, N.J. on Jan. 18, 2014 trying for his sixth Guinness World Record. He stepped on the treadmill at 7 a.m., and at 7 p.m. he stepped off having completed 77.07 miles. That’s a 9:20-per-mile pace for 12 hours. On a treadmill.
As for Solarz’s other records? He visited all 468 of New York City’s subway stops in less than 23 hours.
4. Fastest Marathon While Dribbling a Soccer Ball
At the Sydkyst Marathon in Denmark, Jan La Caille dribbled a soccer ball 26.2 miles and finished the race in 3:29:55. The marathon had varied terrain, taking him on streets, off-road and even on paths covered in snow.
5. Fastest Marathon Carrying a 60-Pound Pack
At the 2013 Tokyo Marathon, Japanese army instructor Toru Sakurai carried a 60-pound backpack the entire course, finishing the race in 4:39:09.
6. Fastest Barefoot Marathon
At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia ran a 2:15:16 to win the gold medal. He ran that marathon barefooted, nabbing him a Guinness World Record to go with his gold. Bikila found his available shoes uncomfortable and often trained barefooted in Ethiopia anyway.
7. Tallest Costume Worn While Running a Marathon