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Fla. man attempts marathon in 3-piece suit.
On a typical weekend, you might find Trevor Sununu building a computer or making movie props, like a flamethrower or Thor hammer, just for fun.
Anything odd, DIY or slightly challenging is just his cup of tea.
That’s why Sununu, a Florida State University biology student and avid runner, was trying to break the Guinness World Record for running in a three-piece business suit Sunday at the Tallahassee Marathon.
In the Tallahassee running realm, he has been known to wear American flag short-shorts and a single sleeve on his left arm instead of a shirt — no matter the weather.
The feat joins a list of other peculiar Guinness records, like fastest marathons dressed as a witch, an astronaut or elf.
“I’ve always liked doing the interesting, not-as-easy-to-do thing,” Sununu said. He was aiming for the most recent record of 2:42:59 by a runner in Germany, according to the Guinness World Records website.
“Once in a while we’ll have a race where people will run in costume,” said Sheryl Rosen, chair of the marathon’s organizing committee under Tallahassee’s Gulf Winds Track Club. “But this is the first time in the 12 years I’ve been with Gulf Winds that I’ve seen someone try to break a record.”
In recent years, he ran in a Batman costume for a superhero-themed race and competed in the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Dash 5K.
Sunday’s weather, with a low of 48 and a high expected in the low 70s, was brisk for the 26.2-mile run.
Sununu said he hopes his run will inspire others to take on a task they never thought they could do.
“I’d like to inspire people, not just kids but everyone, that even if it’s silly in some way like running in a suit, you can always try to push yourself, and do something fun and amazing and silly, and accomplish what you’d like to do.”
Sununu sees his effort as a victory in itself.
“Even just trying to do it and setting out on a goal can be very fun and accomplishing,” he said. “You can always try to push yourself further.”