TWO marathon runners were dressed for success to smash world records during Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon.

Sophie Wood, from Battenhall Road, and Bruce Moore, from Shrawley, ran the grueling 26.2 miles dressed in costume to break Guinness World Records.

Miss Wood, aged 26, taught people a thing or two about record breaking after becoming the fastest female to run a marathon in a school uniform.

Miss Wood crossed the finish line in an impressive three hours and 14 minutes and 34 seconds confidently beating the previous record of four hours 14 minutes and 46 seconds held by Louise Winstanley.

She was running for the Vital Voices Malala Fund after being inspired by the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban on a bus.

The 26-year-old said: “It went really, really well.

“As I reached the 25th mile I was able to enjoy it because I knew I was going to do it.”

Once she crossed the finish line she was presented with a certificate from Guinness World Records and shook hands with Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin group.

Miss Wood is still collecting money at her fundraising site www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/sophiewood/londonmarathon.

Bruce Moore was not aping around when he donned a furry gorilla costume and mask to break the fastest marathon in a full body animal costume (male).

Raising money for Community Service Volunteers, the father-of-four set the record at three hours, 31minutes 36 seconds despite the warm weather.

The 48-year-old is chief executive of Hanover Housing Association where staff and residents are celebrating its 50th anniversary by raising money for charities.

He bought the suit from Amazon and said that while it was heavy, hairy and claustrophobic, he hoped it would raise a few eyebrows, make people smile and prompt some generous donations.

“I didn’t do much training in the suit apart from a couple of relatively short runs in my outfit because it is quite difficult to run in with a full plastic mask and quite heavy and it does attract quite a bit of attention.

“I did run in the Worcester Half Marathon in the gorilla costume the weekend before the London Marathon and was very pleased to finish in under 1 hour 39 minutes.”

Anyone wishing to donate can log on to www.justgiving.com/Bruce-Moore.