A Croxley Green woman has been named the fastest skeleton to run the London Marathon after she wore a skull mask for the entire race.

Claire Casselton, 49, broke the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Skeleton (female) on Sunday, April 21, coming in at 3:51:01, with just 162 seconds to spare.

She lives in Croxley Green with her husband Ian and two kids, Finn and Enya, and decided to run the 26.2-mile race in costume to raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT) after her sister-in-law Carolyn was diagnosed with the condition last year.

Watford Observer: Claire had to wear a skeleton mask for the entire race to qualify for the world record.Claire had to wear a skeleton mask for the entire race to qualify for the world record. (Image: Claire Casselton)Her fundraiser has garnered over £1,600 and she said the response has been “totally amazing”, adding: "People have been so incredibly supportive and I'm just over the moon that it's got to £1,600 pounds."

She only found out on Thursday she would need to wear a skeleton mask across her face for the entire race to qualify for the record.

Claire said wearing it made the last half of the race “really tough”, but added: “I was thinking that people are living with these illnesses all day, every day, and all I had to do was get through to the end.”

 

After the race, she stopped at the Red House in Croxley Green for a drink with fellow members of the Watford Joggers to celebrate.