‘The costume develops its own microclimate’: what it’s like to run a marathon in a novelty outfit

Richard Stoate: ‘I was pretty hot and tired – the last couple of miles were quite tough.’ Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

A few minutes before the 2023 London Marathon began, Richard Stoate was getting into costume on the side of the road.

It was a two-person job: the 43-year-old wasn’t just wearing trainers and sportswear for the 26.2-mile run. He was raising money for the young people’s charity WellChild, so – with his partner’s help – he climbed into a 10ft (3-metre) purple nurse costume.