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UK astronaut runs London Marathon from space

Lewis Sanders IVApril 24, 2016

Hailing from the UK, Tim Peake has claimed a Guinness World Record by completing the "fastest marathon in orbit," while Kenya's Jemima Sumgong and Eliud Kipchoge took the top spots on the ground.

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Astronaut Tim Peake running inside the ISS
Image: picture alliance/dpa/H. Kaiser

British astronaut Tim Peake on Sunday completed the London Marathon from the International Space Station (ISS), 400 kilometers (250 miles) above earth.

"It was fantastic this morning," Peake told the Cologne-based European Astronauts Centre (EAC), according to Germany's dpa news agency.

According to the Guinness World Records, the British astronaut finished the race in record time, with 3 hours and 35 minutes.

We "can confirm that astronaut Tim Peake has achieved a brand new Guinness World Records title for the fastest marathon in orbit," the records organization said in a statement.

The 44-year-old space walker beat American astronaut Sunita Williams' time for running the Boston Marathon in orbit in 4 hours and 23 minutes, according to the National Aeronautical Space Agency (NASA).

'Got back my pace'

Meanwhile, Kenya's Jemima Sumgong became the 2016 Women's Champion with 2 hours and 22 minutes, while fellow Eliud Kipchoge claimed the Men's Champion with 2 hours and 3 minutes, a track record.

Sumgong, who fell towards the end of the race, said it "affected" her run. But that didn't stop her from claiming victory.

"The fall really affected me. I got up as quickly as possible and got back my pace," she said.