BRITISH astronaut Tim Peake ran the London Marathon on Sunday while aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in a world record time.

    The spaceman is the second person to complete the 26.2-mile (42-km) distance while on the ISS.

    However, Peake’s time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds was far faster than U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams of 4 hours, 23 minutes and 10 seconds.

    Williams ran her race in 2007 at the same time as the Boston Marathon.

    Shortly before the start, Peake tweeted: “Hello #London! Fancy a run?”

    He posted a photograph of London from an altitude of 250 miles (402 km) above the earth.

    The Guinness World Records announced that Peake was a record breaker.

    To counter the lack of gravity, Peake was strapped to a treadmill and weighted down.

    However, while he covered 26.2 miles on the treadmill, the ISS covered more than 96,560 km.

    After finishing his run, Peake tweeted: “Congratulations to everyone in #LondonMarathon & #teamastronaut. Gonna sleep well tonight!”

    Following his run, the record keepers announced: “Guinness World Records can confirm that ESA Astronaut Tim Peake has achieved a brand new Guinness World Records title for the Fastest marathon in orbit.”

    Peake had been helped by a training regime on board the space station and an iPad showing a moving image of the run.

    Back on earth in the British capital, more than 39,000 people completed the London Marathon, the biggest number ever as the event marked its 36th edition.

    Peake, 44, is the first Briton to travel to the International Space Station. He blasted off in December for a six-month mission that has generated considerable excitement in Britain.

    “It was an unforgettable experience.” he added.

    Staggering over the finishing line arm-in-arm, thousands of runners completed the 26.2-mile course of the London Marathon on Sunday.

    Runners punched the air in delight, while some failed to control their emotions and burst into tears as they crossed the finishing line after completing the route from Blackheath in south London to the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

    Many celebrities also joined the runners in this year’s race.

    Major Peake, who ran the 26.2-mile course in 3 hours, 18 minutes and 50 seconds on earth back in 1999, saw the roads pass under his feet in real time on an iPad.(SD-Agencies)