A Thai runner has set the Guinness World Record for “fastest marathon dressed in Thai traditional dress”, according to a Nation Thailand report. Somewhat of a specialist sport…
Charinya “Miyu” Kanchanasevee, a 33 year old dentist, completed the race, on Sunday, April 23, in 3 hours, 45 minutes, and 34 seconds. Sifan Hassan, a long-distance Ethiopian-born Dutch runner, won the women’s race with a time of 2:18:33.
Charinya was able to complete the entire 42.195-kilometre course while wearing a traditional blue and gold outfit, as well as a gold headdress. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing, with the dentist revealing that she felt unwell at the start of the race.
Posting on her Facebook page, Charinya says she had some stomach problems during the first 6 kilometres and had to continue running for another 2 kilometres until she found a toilet. However, she refused to be deterred and picked up where she left off, pushing through her pain to finish the marathon.
Charinya’s bright costume consisted of a chadaa headdress, sbai silk shawl, and chong kraben skirt. No detail was forgotten, with the runner even wearing traditional ankle bracelets on top of her running socks.
Nation Thailand reports that the outfit was the work of Thai designer, Achrat Neramitsilp, who is renowned for the traditional Thai costumes worn by the kingdom’s beauty contestants.
Charinya says she decided to wear the costume to showcase Thai silk and fashion, as well as Thailand’s culture, on a global stage. She hopes her appearance will give Thailand’s sports and wellness tourism a boost, by inspiring people around the world to visit the kingdom.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
