An amateur and almost anonymous marathon runner can set a world record. This is the beautiful story that happened to Emmanuel Bonnier, who became the record holder for the fastest marathon on Sunday in Tours… in a costume! This 35-year-old Angevin “caught the running bug” in April 2017, via the challenge of completing a marathon with his brothers Steeve and Yohan (in 3h15 in Lisbon in October 2017). To achieve this unusual performance in 2h40’52” on Sunday (11th overall), he found inspiration in the recent adventure of Guillaume de Lustrac from Isère.
In April, he set the marathon world record… in reverse in Saint-Paul-lès-Romans (Drôme), in 3h25. Enough to encourage Emmanuel Bonnier, author of his best time in the last Paris Marathon (2h30’32”), to browse the Guinness World Records website to pick up a lunar challenge. After being a finisher (and fifth) of his first ultra in Vannes (108 km in 9h03) in June, he threw himself into preparing for his three-piece Tours marathon. The person concerned tells everything to 20 minutes.
How can we say one day that wearing a suit and tie to run a marathon (42.195 km) might be a good idea?
I found Guillaume de Lustrac’s performance in retrorunning both funny and admirable. So I wanted to take on a real sporting challenge like him, so that it wasn’t just about fun. This was the case for the costume marathon as the best time of 2:42:59 was solid. As friends wanted to complete a “classic” marathon in 2h40 at the same time, the alignment of the planets was perfect for us to prepare for the race together and for them to be my record witnesses.
Have you had to sacrifice a suit from your wardrobe?
I’m a salesman in life so I have a lot of suits. But it was impossible to imagine running in one of them because they are far too tight to consider a sporting effort. So I bought a second-hand one on Vinted for 40 euros. I took it in very fine wool so that it would be pleasant but it ended up a little tattered on my first outing (smile). So I had to make adjustments for the following workouts.
How do you train for such an unusual race?
I did three long workouts in a suit this summer, well two and a half because once there was terrible heat that forced me to stop. It was essential to thoroughly test the equipment before the race. I noticed that there were areas of friction on the thighs. The first time, I had bad burns in my crotch so I had to rely on running shorts, which I don’t usually need.
What are the biggest differences/difficulties in such a challenge?
With fatigue, movements are a little reduced in this outfit. I lose a little amplitude because there is clearly a little extra energy expended with each stride. The difference seems tiny, but after 40,000 steps, you feel it pass. This time of 2h40 in costume is really worth my best time in a “classic” marathon of 2h30’32”. And above all, I was lucky that it was between 8 and 14°C that morning in Tours. I would never have been able to pull off this performance if it had been over 20°C. I would have been soaked from head to toe after 20 km with my obligatory three layers of clothing and my tie to validate the record.
Are these Guinness World Records ultimately the way to follow to spice up a sporting career destined to remain anonymous through the “classic” route?
Why not yes, I think that above all you have to be a runner who doesn’t take yourself too seriously. I have my feet on the ground, I know that the marathon world record is 2:01 and that my podiums in local races are not worth much. Some good runners think that such unusual world records would devalue them, this is not the case for me. Since Sunday, I have seen that on social networks, some people consider my record ridiculous. As for me, I remember that I had fun, it’s my priority, and my competitive spirit is also satisfied with this record. Thousands of people are capable of doing better than this record but you still have to want to take part in the game.
What other records have you already spotted on the Guinness website?
I haven’t chosen yet, there really is everything. In a clown costume (2h42), as a ninja (3h23), as Santa Claus (2h49), in a costume… but with street shoes (3h23), and even with a stroller and a baby. This is a real goal for me one day but I don’t have the level yet because the current record time is 2h31’22”. It’s the record in pajamas that catches my eye the most (smile). The time is more accessible (2h46) and comfortable than in a suit. But I haven’t chosen any pajamas on Vinted yet!