A FORMER RGS Worcester pupil took marathon running to a new extreme when he completed the London Marathon dressed as a carrot.

Edward Lumley, aged 27, is now the proud holder of the Guinness world record for the ‘fastest marathon dressed as a vegetable’.

He completed the 26-mile course in two hours, 59 minutes and 33 seconds, smashing the previous record set at the 2010 London Marathonby nearly 10 minutes.

Mr Lumley, who now lives in London and works for Transport for London, said he chose a carrot because it was the “most streamlined vegetable shape” he could find.

He said: “I always thought I could run a marathon and wanted to try something a bit different. I saw something about the record for running a marathon dressed as a vegetable and decided to try to beat that.”

He ran the marathon in aid of Spinal Research, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck and has raised more than £500 forhis chosen cause.

However, having also run the marathon last year, he said he will not be looking to emulate his feats next year and will be hanging up his marathon shoes.

Mr Lumley was one of five people attempting the fastest vegetable record.

He said that as he reached Canary Wharf, he was told by a fellow runner that there was a man dressed as a runner bean who was only a few minutes behind him. He said this gave him the encouragement to up his speed through the next few miles to shake off the threat and secure the record.

Michael Ridout, an athletics coach at RGS Worcester, described his former student’s achievement as magnificant.

He said: “Edward showed ability as a long distance runner at RGS Worcester.

“He represented the county team at cross-country and regularly competing for RGS cross-country and athletics teams, but never suggested world record breaking ability!”

The record was one of 29 records relating to fancy dress broken at this year’s London Marathon.