Friends Chase 2nd World Record in 5-Person Caterpillar Suit

When your first world record goes so smoothly it makes you nervous, the obvious solution is to try for another one in a bigger costume.

That's exactly what five Anderson University graduates are doing at the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in May. Last September, Zach Burton, Zachary Davenport, Ian Leatherman, and Kaid Hutchinson crushed the record for fastest half marathon in a four-person costume, finishing the Geist Half in Fishers in just under 90 minutes. The previous record stood at 1 hour and 41 minutes.

But there was one problem with their victory. Kaleb Gucinski ran the entire race with them, camera in hand, filming the attempt for Guinness verification. While his friends got official plaques, he got nothing.

"To be honest, we felt bad Kaleb didn't get a plaque," Davenport said. "So, we're going to get him a plaque that has his name on it this time."

For the May 2 race, all five friends will squeeze into a 25-foot caterpillar costume. They're targeting the current five-person record of 1 hour, 48 minutes, and 59 seconds, set by a Canadian team in a streetcar costume. Based on their previous time, breaking that record should be well within reach.

The team runs with cameras mounted inside the costume and a speaker blasting an eclectic playlist. Last time, runners grooved to everything from Creed's "Higher" to the Barbie theme song. Burton says a new soundtrack is in the works for the Mini.

Why This Inspires

This isn't just about breaking records. It's about friendship and pure joy. All five runners attended Anderson University together, and three of them say this will be their last attempt as their families grow. They want to go out with something special.

Professor Jack Lugar, who leads the cinema program at Anderson University, is documenting their journey in a short film. He says the story captures something universal about childhood dreams of world records and the silliness that makes life memorable.

The Indianapolis setting adds extra magic. The Mini-Marathon finishes at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where winners traditionally kiss a three-foot strip of original 1909 bricks at the finish line. The team plans to honor that tradition, though coordinating five people in a caterpillar costume for a brick kiss might be their biggest challenge yet.

"You see this giant 25-foot monstrosity coming down the streets of Indianapolis, it better be making music, too," Burton said.

On May 2, Indianapolis will witness exactly that: five friends chasing a dream, making noise, and proving that some of the best achievements come wrapped in absurdity.