Among the more than 39,000 runners taking part in the London Marathon was one who took a slightly different route.
British astronaut Tim Peake made the 26.2 mile run along with everyone else, except he did it from 250 miles above the Earth. Guess you could say he took the high road.
Peake, the first British European Space Agency astronaut, ran the race for real in 1999, completing the 26.2-mile course in a time of 3 hours, 18 minutes.
This time around, Peake, 44, wore a harness that strapped him to the space station's treadmill while watching a virtual-reality video, complete with with avatars depicting actual London Marathon runners who are using the Run Social app, simulating the marathon course.
Peake was hoping to complete the race in a time of around four hours, marathon organizers said, but easily surpassed that by crossing the line in 3:35:21. Guinness World Records says that's a record for the fastest marathon in orbit.
Peake, who is four months into a six-month stay aboard the space station, also sent competitors a good luck video message before Sunday's race.
Of course, being an astronaut, Peake's run also served a scientific purpose, as his physiology was monitored to assess how his body handled the exertion in a weightless environment.
The 44-year-old astronaut was one of more than 39,000 people running the marathon -- the rest on the low road at ground level, including two of his colleagues from the European Space Agency that ran in replica space suits.
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NFL quarterbacks often present their offensive linemen with gifts at the end of a season for protecting them. Pitchers who throw no-hitters apparently give goodies, too.
According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta plans on giving 39-year-old catcher David Ross a watch as a souvenir of Thursday's no-hitter against Cincinnati.
Arrieta, 30, has thrown two no-hitters over a span of 11 regular-season starts.
Ross, in 15 major-league seasons, has been on the receiving end of one.
Arrieta posted on Twitter: "These no-no's are getting expensive for me @D_Ross3" with a couple watch emojis.
Arrieta gave Miguel Montero a nice time piece after the no-hitter they combined on last Aug. 30 at Dodger Stadium as well.
"They're both big watch guys," Arrieta said of his catchers. "It's kind of a tradition to buy the catcher something nice. A nice timepiece is something they'll have to remember it by. Hey, one day, Miggy can give it to Angel, his son, and David the same with Cole. I'll do the same with [my son] Cooper. It's a constant reminder of something special."
Arrieta said the gift is important because he wants his teammates, especially the catcher, to know how much he appreciates what they did.
"It's not an individual thing," Arrieta said of his accomplishment. "I get the notoriety because I was the pitcher, but without the other 8, 9, 10 guys who contributed throughout the game -- I'm just one aspect of it. It's a team thing."
Both of Arrieta's no-hitters have come on the road. He's aware of that.
"I'll throw one at home," Arrieta said. "We'll get it at some point. I'm not done throwing them. There will be another one in Chicago for sure."
Sports quiz
Tim Peake was not the first astronaut to run a marathon in orbit. Who was?
Answer
American Sunita Williams ran the Boston Marathon from space in 2007, finishing in 4 hours, 24 minutes.
Sports on 04/25/2016