Hongkonger runs race in suit and tie to raise awareness of genetic disorder Fragile X
Mike Tozer fell short in his bid to set a Guinness World Record time for running a half-marathon in a suit, but his run helped raise awareness of, and funds for, a genetic condition affecting his son
Even for a regular runner, completing a half-marathon poses a challenge. Attempting to run it in a business suit? Madness. Trying to run fast enough to secure a place in the Guinness World Records? Unfathomable for all but a few.
Such was the quest of Hong Kong-based Mike Tozer at the Sydney Morning Herald Half-Marathon in May. Frustratingly, his speedy finish time of 78 minutes 40 seconds was just seconds slower than the record set by British runner Scott Forbes at a half-marathon in Reading, in southern England, a month earlier (78 min 13 secs).
Yet Tozer, 35, feels victorious. True to his aims, his feat successfully raised awareness and funds for Fragile X – a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioural and learning challenges.
“Every volunteer and spectator was giving me hi-fives and yelling ‘Go Suitman!’… and we raised more than HK$20,000, which was about five times my original goal.”
