Central Illinois Runner to Attempt Guinness World Record at Greater St. Louis Half Marathon While Carrying a Bat, Glove, and Memories

March 31, 2026

Ken Barnes of Taylorville will run the Greater St. Louis Half Marathon on April 11 in full baseball uniform

ST. LOUIS, MO (March 31, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — When most runners toe the starting line of the Greater St. Louis Half Marathon, they’ve donned a race bib, their most comfortable running outfit, and a pair of running shoes. Ken Barnes will be carrying a baseball bat, a fielder’s glove, and over 30 years of Cardinals memories.

Barnes, 33, a competitive runner and former boxer from Taylorville, Illinois, will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for fastest half marathon run while wearing a full baseball uniform. To qualify, Barnes must complete the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 48 minutes and 20 seconds, roughly an 8-minute, 50-second-per-mile pace, while dressed head to toe in regulation baseball attire, including long retro socks, a cap, a fielder’s glove, and a bat that must remain in hand for the entire race.

Barnes will be running in a powder blue, old-school Cardinals-style jersey with “WORLD RECORD” printed across the back and his longtime baseball number, 10, below it.

“Most people are just going to see that guy running a half marathon in a baseball uniform,” Barnes said. “But the story behind the cover is really what matters most.”

That story begins with his father, also named Ken, who passed away when Barnes was 22. From early childhood trips to the old Busch Stadium to bonding over the Cardinals during his teenage years after a long period apart, baseball was the thread that connected them. Barnes vividly recalls his father’s love for the game, idolizing outfielder Jim Edmonds, and watching the Cardinals claim the 2011 World Series together. Running in a Cardinals uniform through the city they both loved is Barnes’s way of bringing his dad along for the race.

“I really wish my dad could be there,” Barnes said. “But to tell that story in a funny, quirky way, with all of our history and all of our memories, it’s going to really mean a lot when I cross that finish line.”

Barnes is no newcomer to the start line. A seasoned multi-sport competitor with approximately 40 races under his belt, including eight previous half marathons, Spartan Races, and triathlons, he holds a half marathon personal record of 1:38. He transitioned from competitive boxing and MMA to road racing after finding that fights were frequently canceled at the last minute, while races almost never are. His inspiration to pursue a Guinness World record came after watching an influencer break a world record for consecutive treadmill half marathons, which planted the seed to find a record that could tell his own story.

The Guinness attempt comes with strict requirements. Barnes must maintain his complete uniform, including the cap, long baseball socks, glove, and bat, for every step of the 13.1 mile race. He is permitted to wear running shoes. At least two unrelated witnesses must accompany and verify the attempt, and photo or video documentation must be captured at each mile marker. Barnes plans to mount a GoPro-style camera to his cap to capture the run and has been training with hand weights to simulate the awkwardness of carrying the bat and glove.

The race kicks off at 7 a.m. on April 11 in downtown St. Louis, with the course winding past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Gateway Arch, where Barnes hopes to snap a few photos in his uniform before it gets framed and hung on the wall.

“On April 11, I think it’s just going to be amazing to just tell that story,” Barnes said. “I think my dad will be proud. I think he’s going to laugh. And it’s going to be very humorous, but at the same time very rewarding.”

Register for the 2026 Greater St. Louis Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, or 1-mile Family Fun Run.

About GO! St. Louis

GO! St. Louis is a nonprofit organization that encourages individuals and families in the St. Louis region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year-round through community collaborations, school-based programming and the creation of accessible fitness events.