Thousands Run London Marathon in Costume: Here’s Why

Thousands of competitors take part in the London Marathon each year. Many choose to run in costume for charity and spectacle.

Why runners pick fancy dress

Fancy dress adds humour and creates memorable scenes along the route. It also helps raise money and draw attention to causes.

Costumes bring their own problems. Extra layers can restrict movement and increase heat stress.

Alex Morris: the polar bear challenge

Alex Morris, 36, from Shrewsbury ran a marathon wearing a polar bear onesie. He had not run a marathon since his early 20s.

Morris trained more than 200 miles before the event. He ran to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind.

The onesie limited his stride and made movement awkward. Heat was his biggest foe, and he lost about 2kg during the race.

He finished in just over five hours. Despite the difficulty, he praised the crowd support and called the day rewarding.

Sally Orange: records and resilience

Sally Orange is a 52-year-old army veteran. She has completed the race 14 times, often in costume to fundraise.

She holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a nut, set in 2019. She has also held records for fastest marathons dressed as a superhero and as a fruit.

After a breast cancer diagnosis, she ran wearing a giant breast costume in 2025. She plans to wear it again this year to support Breast Cancer Now, despite recent treatment.

Orange says costumes change the focus. They let her enjoy the event and make spectators smile rather than chase a fast time.

Chris Garratt: aiming for a new record

Chris Garratt, 50, of Worcester will run his sixth London Marathon this year. He hopes to set the fastest time while wearing a graduation gown.

In 2023 he attempted a similar record in a lumberjack outfit. Heavy boots and rain slowed him, and he stopped at 17 miles to reassess his choices.

He still completed the course but did not break the record. Later that year he ran the fastest half marathon dressed as a lumberjack.

Garratt is running this year in a full suit. He is raising funds for the University of Worcester student scholarship and hardship fund.

What these stories show

Costumed runners balance fun and fundraising with real physical challenges. Heat, limited mobility and added weight can make the course far tougher.

Still, thousands take part in the London Marathon in costume each year. For many, the atmosphere and charity goals outweigh the hardship.

This coverage was produced for Filmogaz.com, drawing on local accounts and competitor stories.