This year's St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is expected to draw 26,000 participants...but only one will leave the course crowned as King.
During this year's full marathon, Nikki Johnstone and Mike Wardian will be competing in a showdown to be named the world's fastest running Elvis. Mike set the world record at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon in 2016. Nikki broke that record at the Berlin Marathon in 2018. Now they're coming to Memphis, Tenn., home of Elvis himself, to settle this rivalry. The Guinness Book of Records will be on hand to validate the results.
In accordance to the rules set by Guinness, the "Elvi" must wear an Elvis wig, glasses, sideburns and a white Elvis one-piece suit while running.
The two Elvi are participating in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend to help bring awareness to the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Other race participants are not discouraged at all from also dressing as Elvis for this year's race.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet your Elvi
Mike Wardian
Experience: American marathoner and ultra-marathoner
Bragging rights: Holds world records for running a marathon as Spider-Man and running 10 marathons in 10 days; in 2016 was the fastest man to complete the six World Marathon Majors in a single year
Elvis street cred: Won 2016 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon dressed as Elvis (finish time 2:38:04)
Nikki Johnstone
Experience: German marathoner and ultra-marathoner
Bragging rights: Top 10 finisher at Dusseldorf Marathon in 2017, second place finisher at Monschau Ultra Marathon in 2017, third place at Winner for Life World Run Breda in 2018, first place and course record at 2018 HuBuT Ultra Trail race
Elvis street cred: Current Elvis marathon world record holder with a time of 2:35:20
Thank you. Thank you very much.
