The Sydney Marathon made its official debut as a World Marathon Majors on Sunday, drawing nearly 33,000 finishers from across the globe.
While Olympic champion Sifan Hassan’s victory headlined the race’s elite front, much of the day’s spirit belonged to the bizarre and brilliant, a 42-kilometer carnival of sweat, surreal costumes, and no fewer than 13 Guinness World Records.
Daniel Byrnes was one of them.
The 37-year-old Sydneysider crossed the finish line outside the Opera House in 4 hours and 33 minutes, weighed down by an unconventional burden, 53 pairs of underwear. It was enough to break the previous world record, and almost his hips.
“The elastic from the undies just kept pulling and pulling,” Byrnes told The Guardian on Monday. “It was rather painful. My hips are no good today.”
The effort added five extra kilos to his frame and required 15 minutes of prep before the start line. The entire process, donning each layer and stripping them off post-race for verification, was monitored by an official from Guinness, who Byrnes said deserved a raise.
“At the end, the poor guy from Guinness World Records was still there, having to pull down my sweaty undies to verify it…he doesn’t get paid enough, that’s for sure.”
The stunt was done to raise funds for Bowel Cancer Australia, and Byrnes received a boost from Aussie underwear brand Tradie, which sent him two boxes of gear to help. But after training with the extra weight in the final weeks before race day, he’s ready to retire from the category.
“I’m open to ideas for next year,” he said, “but I definitely won’t be going for underwear again.”
He wasn’t the only one chasing history in costume.
Japanese runner Masakazu Konno ran 3:03:20 dressed as Darth Vader, setting a new record for fastest marathon dressed as a Star Wars character. A veteran of the marathon cosplay circuit, Konno also holds records for fastest marathons dressed as a ninja and in a full suit and dress shoes.
Melissa Huston ran 3:51:27 in a traditional Chinese cheongsam dress, while Bondi Rescue’s Andrew Reid clocked 3:17:37 carrying a surfboard and wearing thongs, earning him the title of fastest marathon dressed as a surfer. Dr. Myint Mo Oo, a GP from NSW, completed the race in traditional Burmese dress, Padauk flower included, finishing in 4:12:19 as part of a run dedicated to Myanmar’s democratic struggle.
Even the twin bond was tested. Sisters Emily and Isabella Chen, both 21, ran the fastest marathon by a female twin duo, finishing in a combined time of 7:37:02.
There were quieter victories too. The youngest finishers were 18, and the oldest, Nelson Rafael Lara Garcia, was 87, crossing the line in 6:46:56, just under 10 minutes per kilometer. More than 20 runners were treated by paramedics for heat-related or musculoskeletal issues, with most cleared quickly.
And as the final finishers trickled through nearly nine hours after the gun, Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’” played over the loudspeakers. One runner danced across the finish line to cheers from volunteers and lingering spectators.
“Even after the longest of runs,” organizers posted on social media, “one of our final finishers wrote their finish in joy, spirit and dance. The kind that lingers long after the race is done.”
The 2025 edition was a crucial audition for Sydney as it pushes to become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major, joining cities like London, Tokyo, and New York.
With over 10,000 international entrants and a finish line that welcomed everyone from pros to pint-glass-costumed joggers, Sunday was more than a race. It was a city-sized showcase of what happens when athletic ambition meets absurd creativity, and no small amount of chafing.
