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B.C. lawyer completes marathon in a suit, breaks world record

On Sunday, Adam Campbell, a 33 year-old Victoria lawyer and ultra-marathoner, crossed the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon finish line in an impressive two hours, 35 minutes, 53 seconds.

More impressive? He completed the race while wearing a suit and tie. Watch the video of Campbell before and after the run.

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"Although I'm a self-proclaimed 'serious' runner, I recognize that sport is ultimately about having fun, so I was looking for a quirky challenge," Campbell, tells Victoria News before the race.

"Mercifully, I don't have to wear dress shoes," says Campbell. "I'll be wearing my favourite pair of racing flats from Frontrunners, which happen to match my tie."

He later tells Letsrun.com, "I left the top button on my suit and shirt done up and the tie knotted and pulled tight the whole way."

His feat should soon be recognized by the Guinness World Records as the fastest marathon in a suit. The previous fastest time was almost an hour longer: three hours, 24 minutes, 46 seconds. And to break record in style, Campbell wore a Paul Betenly suit donated by Citizen Clothing in Estevan Village.

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"It's silly but unique," he tells the Times Colonist at the finish line. "Not everyone can say they're a world-record holder. I'll take it."

Even in a sweaty suit, Campbell's time placed him sixth.

"Ultimately I'm doing the run for charity, to raise money for the Access Pro Bono Society, so I'm willing to put up with some significant discomfort to set a respectable time," says the lawyer who often offers his services pro bono to his community.

Campbell ran his first 100-mile race in May, the Mt. Fuji Ultra Trail in Japan. He finished second overall with a time of 19 hours, 26 minutes.