A BORDERS runner has smashed a marathon world record dressed as Mr Potato Head.

Gala Harrier Bob Johnson, from Walkerburn, completed the London race in a time of 4:59.30 at the weekend – peeling 30 seconds off the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a three-dimensional toy.

This was Bob’s second attempt. Last year he completed the marathon in the costume just 19 minutes over the five hour record.

As the costume was solid with very little ventilation, Bob had to endure difficult conditions as temperatures in London soared to a marathon record high of 23.2 degrees centigrade.

During his challenging attempt, Bob tweeted: “I’m a baked potato with extra blood, sweat and tears!”

After crossing the line in record time, he revealed the difficult conditions he faced.

Bob told us: “I broke the record with only 30 seconds to spare.

"My left knee hurt for ten miles followed by a little cramp in my left hamstring.

"I had to run the last three miles as fast as possible, but all’s well that ends well!"

His large, colourful costume was made mostly from papier mache and weighed over 10 kgs.

With limited space to move and with only an inch gap to see out of, water and energy gels had to be passed up from his knees.

Bob was also raising money for the humanitarian charity Afghanaid.

And he has already managed to rack-up £2,735.49 for the cause.

Bob added: “It is a great pleasure to be able to raise funds for Afghanaid.

"The Afghan people have endured decades of hardship.

"Afghanaid works hard to provide education, water and sanitation services and community infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads and bridges to empower communities and help them to shape their own development.”

For more information about Afghanaid or to donate money to the cause, visit Bob’s Virgin Money fundraiser page at goo.gl/MZPw8T