ThereB次元官网网址檚 something quixotic about the way Adam Campbell is suiting up for his newest adventure. Campbell, you see, is an ultramarathoner.

Before work, after work and on the weekends, the 33-year-old trains full time for long-distance running. From nine to five, however, heB次元官网网址檚 a lawyer with Hemminger Schmid based in Vic West. Campbell the lawyer also offers his services pro bono to the community.

And in true enterprising fashion, heB次元官网网址檚 tying all three together as he prepares to run Sunday morningB次元官网网址檚 GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon B次元官网网址� in a suit.

B次元官网网址淎lthough IB次元官网网址檓 a self-proclaimed B次元官网网址榮eriousB次元官网网址� runner, I recognize that sport is ultimately about having fun, so I was looking for a quirky challenge,B次元官网网址� Campbell said.

The challenge being: run a faster marathon time, in a suit, than the current world record holder, Paul Buchanan, who ran the 2009 Dublin Marathon (Ireland) in three hours, 24 minutes.

BuchananB次元官网网址檚 race is acknowledged by Guinness World Records and Campbell has ironed out the necessary Guinness documentation should he lower BuchananB次元官网网址檚 mark on Sunday.

The rules are simple: finish the race in a suit.

B次元官网网址淢ercifully, I donB次元官网网址檛 have to wear dress shoes,B次元官网网址� Campbell said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be wearing my favourite pair of racing flats from Frontrunners, which happen to match my tie.B次元官网网址�

It seemed like a good way to marry my dual identity as a lawyer and an elite runner.B次元官网网址�

Predominantly a trail runner, Campbell is no slouch.

He finished second overall at his first 100-miler in May, the Mt. Fuji Ultra Trail in Japan, with a time of 19 hours, 26 minutes.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 about 17 hours longer than the average time it takes to complete an Olympic distance triathlon, the sport which brought Campbell to Victoria in the first place.

B次元官网网址淢y first marathon was Victoria in 2006 and I finished third with a time of 2:29:11. I donB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檒l be anywhere close to that, but IB次元官网网址檓 quite confident that I can break three hours.B次元官网网址�

Plenty of tutus and mask-wearing runners have crossed the Victoria Marathon finish line before, so Campbell isnB次元官网网址檛 the first to run it in costume.

But he might be the most accomplished runner to do so.

B次元官网网址淚 hope (Campbell) doesnB次元官网网址檛 have too much chafing and I would like to see the state of the suit when heB次元官网网址檚 finished,B次元官网网址� said Jonathan Foweraker, organizer of the marathonB次元官网网址檚 elite athletes.

Well-suited for racing

Ultrarunners are accustomed to extra gear, most wearing a belt full of water bottles and a headlamp as they run through the dark of the night.

But a tailored business suit is something else.

Ultimately, heat on the day is CampbellB次元官网网址檚 greatest concern. This summer, a Missouri runner tried to break the record but, because he over-heated, he walked to the finish, taking just over five hours.

The weather calls for sun and thatB次元官网网址檚 CampbellB次元官网网址檚 preference.

B次元官网网址淚 think heat is better than rain, IB次元官网网址檓 sure the suit would get quite heavy if it got drenched,B次元官网网址� he said.

The suit is a Paul Betenly, donated from Citizen Clothing in Estevan Village. It retails for $695 and comes with a shirt by Culturata and a red Dion tie.

Campbell visited Citizen proprietor Patrick Tier for a fitting earlier this week, though Tier was undecided about whether or not he should leave the suit and jacket a little bit loose.

B次元官网网址淯ltimately IB次元官网网址檓 doing the run for charity, to raise money for the Access Pro Bono Society, so IB次元官网网址檓 willing to put up with some significant discomfort to set a respectable time.B次元官网网址�

sports@vicnews.com