Firefighter's record-breaking London Marathon run

A firefighter has smashed the world record for running the fastest London Marathon in full kit.

Mark Peart, 38, from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, completed the 26.2 mile (42km) course in three hours, two minutes and 57 seconds on Sunday.

The previous record stood at three hours and 41 minutes.

Peart, the station manager at Penistone Fire Station, said as a firefighter he was used to feeling hot in his kit, but admitted that as the temperatures soared in London, "it were a tough day".

Peart was running in support of the Firefighters Memorial Trust, a charity which supports the families of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

He said he had not done a lot of training in the full kit, but he was confident that as a keen runner he was capable, though he said afterwards it was time to put the record attempts to bed.

"Yesterday, I made a bit of a deal with myself that that we're it," he said.

"That were the last one."

A firefighter for 18 years, Peart is no stranger to physical challenges and this was not the first time he has secured a place in the record books.

In April 2023, he set a world record for running the London Marathon in full uniform while using an air tank.

On that occasion is took him four hours, four minutes and five seconds to complete the course, having to stop every two miles to have his tank changed.

"It was fine up until 16 miles when it suddenly became very heavy and uncomfortable. I won't be rushing back to break it," he said at the time.

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