Morris Dancer Breaks Marathon Record by Over an Hour

Rhys Boorman just proved that running 26.2 miles with bells on your legs is no joke. The Hastings dad obliterated the world record for fastest marathon dressed as a Morris dancer, crossing the finish line at the London Marathon in 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 51 seconds.

That's not just a win. It's a record-breaking performance that beat the previous time by more than an hour.

Rhys runs with the Hastings RX Morris team, and he completed the entire April 26 race in full traditional Morris dancing kit. Think bells, ribbons, and all the authentic gear that typically accompanies folk dancing, not distance running.

But here's where the story gets even better. Rhys almost didn't get official recognition for his achievement because he missed Guinness World Records' notification deadline of February 13.

The reason? His wife Rhiannon gave birth to their second daughter, Eleri, on that exact day. The baby arrived two weeks late, which meant Rhys had slightly bigger priorities than paperwork.

When Guinness asked for proof he'd actually run the whole race in costume, Rhys turned to the crowd. He appealed to marathon spectators for photos and videos, and they delivered evidence from the start line, finish line, and multiple points throughout the course.

Sunny's Take

This story captures something beautiful about priorities and perseverance. Rhys didn't let missing a deadline stop him from chasing his goal, and he didn't let a world record attempt overshadow welcoming his daughter into the world.

His wife Rhiannon and both daughters, Gwendolyn and Eleri, watched him cross the finish line. That image alone, a dad running in bells and ribbons while his newborn watches from the sidelines, speaks to the joy of doing hard things for the right reasons.

Rhys didn't just break a record. He showed his daughters what dedication looks like while keeping his family first.

The Morris dancing community now has a sub-three-hour marathoner in their ranks, and one very understanding wife cheering him on.