Preparing your race kit

This year's marathon is set to be the biggest ever, with more than 100 runners attempting Guinness world records.

Categories for record-breaking attempts in costume include:

Tallest costume worn while running a marathon (record to beat: 7.04m or 23.1ft)

Fastest marathon in a fireman's uniform (record to beat: 4:45:16)

Fastest marathon dressed as a vegetable (record to beat: 3:09:21)

Fastest dressed as a fruit (record to beat: 3:50:40)

35 year-old Michael Barton from Maidenhead will be dressed as a massive banana.  Michael hopes his choice of costume raises a smile, but says it will be the memory of his late mother that will keep him going during the race "This is a very personal challenge for me.  My mum who I was very close to died of myeloid leukaemia when I was a teenager.  Everything I raise will go to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research"

Other record attempts this year include:

Most money raised for charity by a marathon runner (record to beat: £1,841,138)

55 year-old Steve Chalke MBE is going for this one.  In 2007 Steve actually set the record when he raised an astonishing £1.8m for Oasis UK.  This year he says that he "determined" to exceed this.

Most linked runners to complete a marathon (record to beat: 34)

Fastest marathon carrying a 40lb pack (record to beat: 4:42:44)

Fastest marathon run by a married couple - aggregated time (current record: 5:59:20).

Jez and Lucy Mancer from Leigh-on-sea have tied the knot but are intent on breaking this record!

Fastest juggling a football

This should be one of the biggest crowd pleasers at this year’s race. 25 year-old John Farnworth from Preston, Lancashire is one of the best freestyle footballers in the world. He will attempt to break the Guinness World Record that stands at 7 hr 18 min 55 sec.

Most Rubik's cubes solved while running a marathon

Uli Kilian is the guy gong for this record and he has still to source his costume. He is asking for your help and ideas for a lightweight costume that would highlight his challenge and cause. If you can help you can let him know by email to uli@rubiksrun.com

Fastest scarf knitted whilst running a marathon (5ft 2 inches)

One person who has managed to get his costume sorted is Lloyd Scott.

In 2002 he 'ran' the London Marathon in a deep sea diving suit. This year he will take 26 days to finish dressed as a snail. He willl crawl the 26-mile course at about one mile per day dressed as Magic Roundabout character Brian the Snail. The former professional footballer said he hoped to raise at least £20,000 for children's charity Action for Kids. He has raised more than £5 million for charity by running marathons.

I know another couple who have almost got their costumes together. My training partners, who I ran with last week and talked about in my blog, rang me earlier in the week to invite me to run with them this Friday when they have a practice run in their costumes. I won't say any more than that at the moment but will definitely take my camera and report back on their motives and madness! Watch this space!

Runners who want to go for a record can register their intent on the Virgin London Marathon section of the Guinness website: www.guinnessworldrecords.com/virgin