The appliance of science sees QUB boffin set London Marathon record

Chemist Stephen runs fastest time in world for someone dressed in full laboratory gear

FOR most participants, completing the London Marathon would be a challenge in itself.

But Dr Stephen Cochrane decided he would go a step further and secure a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest runner dressed as a scientist.

The 36-year-old father-of-two from Portadown, a chemist at Queen’s University in Belfast, said: “My legs are pretty beat up today, but that’s normal after a marathon... and, yeah, the costume did add an extra challenge.”

His run of two hours, 48 minutes and 51 seconds beat the old time by almost seven minutes.

And he has his students at Queen’s to thank for landing a spot in the record books.

He explained: “The idea only came about at a Christmas party last year.

“One of my PHD students mentioned that he’d heard there was an actual world record for running a marathon dressed as a scientist.

“When I checked it out there was (set in last year’s Chicago Marathon), and it was a good bit slower than my best time, so I thought let’s have a bit of craic.”

He added: “I’ve done four of the big six marathons around the world now.

“I’ve been to Chicago, Berlin, Boston and now London.

“New York is on my list next year, then Tokyo.

“Sydney and Cape Town could be added to the elite marathons list, so they’re going to keep me

‘My legs are pretty beat up, but that’s normal... and, yeah, the costume was an extra challenge’

running. I plan to do them all if I can.

“But I think I’ll retire the scientist outfit for now.

“If someone beats the record, then I’ll have to have another go.

“But it’s back to the normal running gear unless that happens.”

The support from the public on Sunday was “fantastic”, he said.

He added. “The whole weekend is geared up for the marathon and there’s hardly a quiet spot around the whole course.

“It probably ranks second in the world for atmosphere. Boston was pretty special.”

Although his time around the course in the UK capital was a little slower than his personal best, there’s the sheer number of people taking part to take into account — plus the heavy white coat.

“I decided to go with the proper lab coat,” he explained.

“Next time I might go for a lighter one.

“I think that would count, and would be a little easier to wear.”

In fact, it was the full scientist outfit on Sunday. As well as the Queen’s standard lab coat, there were protective goggles, safety equipment, proper lab trousers and, to top it off, he also had to carry a piece of scientific apparatus around the course.

“I went for a 15ml measuring cylinder,” he said.

“And I didn’t drop it — that would have put an end to everything.

“I tried out the full costume in the Portadown half marathon earlier this year and couldn’t believe how hot it was.

“You heat up a lot more quickly. It can be tough enough in normal running kit.

“There was plenty of cool water thrown around me that day, and it was more of the same around London on Sunday.

“Ideally, you want the weather a bit cooler, but it was a sunny day.

“It was three quick sips for me any chance I got and the rest went over my head and down my back.”

Stephen’s time around the Portadown course is likely to see him in the record books as well for the fastest half marathon in a scientist outfit.

“Yeah, there’s actually a world record for that too,” he said.

“As there was no representative from Guinness at that race I had to get a photograph every mile as proof.

“They’ve to be sent away for verification, so hopefully I’ll have confirmation of that record too pretty soon.”

A dedicated athlete, he likes to do his training early in the morning.

He said: “If you’re out on the tow path between Portadown and Scarva around 6am, you’ll likely have spotted me.

“I’m out there throughout the winter with my headlamp on and maybe a pair of headphones listening to an audiobook.

“I don’t get much chance for reading (he loves sci-fi and fantasy novels) with two children at home to keep me occupied.

“It’s a great time for thinking. It clears the mind.

“And I have so many other things to be doing during the day, it gets the running out of the way before I have to start.”

After his efforts in London, it was straight to the airport and back to academia the next day.

He added: “I always have one to one meetings scheduled with my PHD students on Monday.

“It’s a busy day. But just this once I told them I wouldn’t be holding the first one until 10am.”