TROWBRIDGE triathlete Rachel Bown can now call herself a Guinness World Record holder after setting a new record for running the London Marathon in the fastest time dressed in a hippo mascot outfit to raise money for charity.
A year on since she was in recovery from a brain tumour, Miss Bown, of Magnolia Rise, ran the 26.2 mile course in 3.58:57 – smashing the previous record of 4.02:56.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet and there are parts of the marathon that I don’t even remember,” the 45-year-old said.
“To know that I have set the record is a bit surreal at the moment.
“I couldn’t have done it without Tim Lowrie my training partner and he got my drinks and gels for me and I don’t look at it as my record but one we share together.”
Since she started training, the PE teacher at Larkrise Special School has managed to raise over £5,000 for Brain Tumour Support, whose mascot is a hippo.
The charity helped Miss Bown as she went through treatment for her brain tumour which left her blind in one eye.
She added: “The whole point of doing it for the Guinness World Record wasn’t about the fundraising for me, it was about raising the profile of the charity. They were over the moon that I was able to set the record and they’ve been celebrating since.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who supported me and donated towards the run. A special thanks to my sponsors CEP compression socks and Clif Bar energy gels whose products really did help along the course.”
People can still donate to Miss Bown at https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/braintumoursupport/rachelbown
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