It was only Josh Baan on his way to victory in the quarter marathon.
Baan (20) a second year accountancy student received the getup as a recent birthday present from flatmate Jake Jackson-Grammar and, as a dare, Baan wore it for the inaugural quarter marathon section held in association with the Cadbury sponsored Dunedin Marathon yesterday.
Although he found the outfit light and easy enough to run in, it did attract attention, more so as Baan led the field throughout.
He shared the lead initially with Allister Meffan (Wellington), but pulled away just before halfway and completed the 11.6km course in 42min 53sec. Meffan crossed for second in 43min 33sec.
Yesterday's victory for Baan tops off an impressive first year at senior level and came just a week after he finished fourth in elite company at the national road championships.
But yesterday was more of a low key run for the pair. Meffan returned to Dunedin to catch up with friends and entered the event organised by his old club Caversham. Baan is now preparing for the track season.
''That's how it should be in the pecking order,'' Meffan said of his old clubmate winning the title.
''Caversham supported me while I was in Dunedin so it's always good to be able to come back and support them in their event.''
Sarah Chisnall always intended to defend the open women's marathon title, but had to shelve those plans two months ago when she picked up an amoebic parasite infestation while tramping the Mt Richmond Forest Park in Marlborough.
''I've just got no energy,'' she said.''
It's just been a struggle to run 20min at the moment.''
Despite that, Chisnall lifted the open women's quarter marathon title in 44min.
Chisnall said that she was very grateful for the strong tail wind, as it was just a case of doing the race for personal achievement, and just to see if she could complete the distance.
''I have huge respect for those in the full [marathon]. I couldn't have done that today.''
Chisnall said that she felt it important to get out and support the event and that the quarter distance was probably at the end of her ability at the moment.
''I'm in no shape to do the long distances,'' she said.
''But I wanted to get out and support this one today. So I put a huge effort in.''
She hopes to be back at full health to attempt a fifth open women's title in the marathon section next year.
First in the quarter marathon walk section was Julie Edmunds, who survived the blustery conditions in 1hr 6min 59sec.
