A Solihull man aiming to break a world record is already turning heads across the Atlantic in New York City. Dan Hudson, 39, who grew up in Shirley and now splits his time between Solihull and New York for work, will run the London Marathon on Saturday, April 26, to raise money for Marie Curie. The charity provided end-of-life care for his mother, Gillian.
Third Marathon with a Twist
This will be Dan's third time running the London Marathon, so he wanted to do something different. With a Guinness World Record in mind, the comedian and podcaster is hoping to beat the time for the fastest marathon dressed as a microphone (male).
Speaking to BirminghamLive, he said: "I've done a bunch of marathons, but wanted to do something with a twist. After running alongside people dressed in something like a tomato suit, I wanted to be one of the funny runners. I saw there was an existing record for fastest runner dressed as a microphone and thought that's the one I have to do."
Media Career and Motivation
Dan, who works in radio and podcasts, explained the deeper meaning behind the costume: "Working in the media industry, it can be very brutal and projects can just stop happening. This is me saying I'm going to carry on and come back stronger with a bigger microphone."
The microphone suit will be a one-time use, but he added: "Unless I beat the record, in which case, I'm going to have to return in the suit and attempt it again." It also serves as preparation for the New York Marathon in November.
Training in New York
To comply with Guinness World Record regulations, Dan's costume had to go below the knee. He admitted the weight on the shoulders could become 'cumbersome'. To prepare, he has been running the streets of New York in the costume.
He shared an unexpected encounter: "You can do anything in New York and people will ignore you, apart from running around dressed as a microphone. It's so weird, everyone notices you which isn't normal."
One man approached him and showed pictures from 9/11 taken from the exact spot they stood on. "It was a brilliant conversation and you just don't speak to strangers in New York. But if you speak to someone dressed as a microphone - there's probably an analogy there - but you're amplifying your interactions with people."
To donate to Dan's fundraiser for the London Marathon, visit his fundraising page.
