Running News Daily

Running a marathon in under 2:50 is an impressive achievement for any athlete. Doing it while dressed as a giant hot dog takes the accomplishment to an entirely different level.

Sarah Pezzino captured attention at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon after completing the demanding 26.2-mile course in an outstanding 2:49:15, all while wearing a full hot dog costume.

Complete with a bun, sausage and a distinctive line of ketchup, Pezzino carried her unusual outfit through all five boroughs of New York City without allowing the costume to stand in the way of an exceptional performance.

Her finishing time translates to an average pace of approximately 6 minutes and 27 seconds per mile (4:00 per kilometre), placing her 59th among more than 28,000 female finishers and fourth in her age group.

What initially began as a joke among friends eventually developed into a serious record-breaking ambition. After discovering the Guinness World Records benchmark for completing a marathon in a food-themed costume, Pezzino decided to see just how fast she could go.

The existing mark stood at 3:11:34, meaning her remarkable 2:49:15 performance was more than 22 minutes faster. However, Guinness World Records must still review and officially verify her performance before she can be recognised as the record holder.

Interestingly, the hot dog costume already has a place in marathon record history.

Back in 2015, Runner's World editor Meghan Kita approached Guinness World Records about establishing a marathon record specifically for runners dressed as hot dogs. The organisation considered the category too narrow and instead introduced a broader fast-food costume category.

Kita subsequently completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 3:57:49, stopping at every mile marker to collect photographic evidence of her costume throughout the race.

More than a decade later, Pezzino has taken the challenge to another level, producing a performance that would be impressive even without the added difficulty of running in a full-body costume.

Her achievement is a wonderful reminder of the creativity, humour and extraordinary determination that make marathon running such a special sport.

While thousands of runners take on New York chasing personal bests, qualifying standards and competitive positions, Pezzino managed to combine entertainment with genuine athletic excellence.

She did not simply bring a smile to the streets of New York. She delivered a sub-2:50 marathon performance that could also earn her a place in the Guinness World Records.

A hot dog costume, 26.2 miles and a remarkable 2:49:15. Sarah Pezzino certainly proved that you can have fun and run fast at the same time!