When Bridget Burns laces up her running shoes, she doesn't just chase personal bests—she chases dreams dressed as pilots, sailors, zookeepers, and even Michael Jackson. The Toronto runner has turned her love of creative challenges into an inspiring collection of nine Guinness World Records, proving that with imagination and dedication, the possibilities are truly limitless.

Burns' remarkable journey began in 2014, and she shows no signs of slowing down. In 2025 alone, she added two more prestigious records to her growing collection, both celebrating her lifelong fascination with aviation and transportation. Her latest accomplishments beautifully blend her personal interests with athletic achievement in ways that captivate and inspire running communities across Canada and beyond.

The transportation theme running through Burns' record attempts isn't random—it reflects her genuine passion and background. As a former Royal Canadian Air Cadet who took sailing lessons as a teenager and now works in the passenger train industry, she has woven her professional and personal interests into every stride. "I now hold Guinness World Records in all of these industries," Burns proudly shares, having conquered records dressed as a sailor, railroad engineer, pilot, and flight suit aviator.

Her September 2025 record came after rewatching the iconic film Top Gun, which inspired her to don a complete Maverick costume—flight suit, helmet, and vintage leather Corcoran jump boots—for the Canada Army Run half-marathon in Ottawa. Despite the challenging costume, Burns completed the 21.1-kilometer course in an impressive 2:31:49, claiming the record for fastest half-marathon dressed in a flight suit (female).

Just weeks later, Burns returned to her hometown for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon weekend, this time dressed as a commercial pilot complete with epaulettes, aviator sunglasses, and a professional uniform. She shaved an incredible 20 minutes off her previous time, finishing in 2:08:23 and setting another world record.

What makes Burns' achievements particularly heartwarming is her motivation. According to her Guinness World Records page, she continues taking on these challenges "to raise awareness for costumed half-marathons, specifically for those in the transportation industries of sea, land and air." Her efforts celebrate the hardworking people in these essential industries while encouraging others to think creatively about their own goals.

Burns' collection of nine records spans various themes, from honoring transportation workers to celebrating pop culture icons and professions like boxers and zookeepers. Her fastest costumed half-marathon time stands at an impressive 2:01:23, achieved while dressed as a railroad engineer in 2023.

Through her unique approach to running, Bridget Burns demonstrates that world records aren't just for elite athletes in perfect conditions. They're also for creative spirits who dare to combine their passions in unexpected ways. Her story reminds us that when we pursue what genuinely excites us—even if that means running 21 kilometers dressed as a pilot—we can achieve remarkable things while inspiring countless others along the way.

Burns continues to prove that with determination, creativity, and a willingness to stand out from the crowd, anyone can make their mark on the world, one costumed kilometer at a time.