FEATURE
This is James McCallum, aka @ man _ in _ a _ suit1, and he’ s not just here to break records; he’ s here to make a difference.
RICHARD LASKEY: Let’ s start with the obvious: how does one go from getting yanked out of the water at their first
triathlon to competing against actual legends?
James: Oh, man. That first triathlon- what a disaster!
Couldn’ t even make it 200 metres in the water. Got pulled out. Ego bruised. Wet, cold, embarrassed. But that moment lit a raging inferno in me. I refused to let that be the end of the story. I threw myself into the sport after that. Went all in. Trained with Richard Laidlow in France, an endurance coaching mastermind and ended up racing alongside his son Sam, who’ s just a freak of nature.
RICHARD LASKEY: What would you say to someone who feels like a R10 donation won’ t make a difference?
James: That’ s one of the biggest myths. Last month, the @ man _ in _ a _ suit1 page had 400,000 visits. If every one of those people donated just R1, we’ d change lives, seriously. It ' s not about the size of the gift; it ' s about collective momentum. Every single Rand matters.
RICHARD LASKEY: And now, the Guinness World Record
attempt? A 21.1km in a suit. Madness or masterpiece?
James: Hopefully both! On 14 September at the OUTsurance
Gun Run, I’ m going after the official record for the fastest half marathon run in a full suit, currently sitting at 1:12:36. It’ s going to take everything I’ ve got, but I’ m ready.
RICHARD LASKEY: You didn’ t just“ compete” though— you thrived. Ironman 70.3 Durban win, podiums at Mossel Bay,
European Top 10s. You went full gas!
James: I loved it. The grind, the rivalries, the travel. Living
on aeroplane meals and suffering through training blocks in places with names you can’ t pronounce was magic. Eventually, I stepped back from competing full-time to focus on coaching with Laidlow Coaching. I wanted to help others find their limits and push past them.
RICHARD LASKEY: And yet, somehow, after all that, you end up in a business suit, riding the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
What gives?
James:( Laughs) Fantasy NFL League. Yup. A bunch of mates
and I do a season every year, and the loser has to honour whatever bet we’ ve agreed on. That year, the loser had to ride the Argus in a full traditional business suit. Jacket, tie, collared shirt, the works. And guess who lost?
RICHARD LASKEY: But you didn’ t just roll around for a
laugh— you raced that thing.
James: I figured if I’ m going to look like an idiot, I might as
well do some good. So I partnered with the Children’ s Red Cross Hospital, raised funds, and went full-send. Finished in 3 hours and 30 seconds. In polyester. I reckon I sweated out 4 litres that day.
RICHARD LASKEY: And because you clearly enjoy
suffering, you came back the next year, but faster?
James: Yup. 02:47. My mates couldn’ t believe it. Neither
could my dry cleaner. By then,“ Man In A Suit” had become a bit of a thing. I started thinking bigger.
RICHARD LASKEY: Enter Jumping Kids. James: Exactly. Jumping Kids is an incredible organisation
that gives children living with limb differences access to prosthetics and proper care. I fell in love with their mission. It’ s empowering, watching a child go from struggling to walk to running again. I thought: if I can wear a suit and raise awareness( and some eyebrows), why not?
RICHARD LASKEY: Speaking of eyebrows, how did you
run a 10km in a full suit in 32:42?! That’ s bonkers.
James: It was the ABSA Run Your City Cape Town race. The
goal was to make a statement, not just for speed, but for the cause. I had people shouting“ You’ re mad!” at every corner. Which is fair. But the support and donations that poured in afterwards? Worth every chafe.
RICHARD LASKEY: Final thoughts, James? James: It’ s never really about the record or the outfit; it’ s about
purpose and giving back. It’ s about showing people that you don’ t need to be perfect, or even serious, to make an impact. You just have to start. And maybe, just maybe, wear something wildly inappropriate while you’ re at it.
So, here’ s to James McCallum: the Man in a Suit with a Heart on Fire. From the bottom of a pool to the top of the leaderboard, his journey is proof that passion, purpose, and a really good tailor can take you places.
Follow James and support Jumping Kids at @ man _ in _ a _ suit1 Let’ s help more kids get moving— one laugh, one record, and one suit at a time.
Instagram Handles: @ man _ in _ a _ suit1 / @ jamesmccallum92 Back a Buddy Link: https:// www. backabuddy. co. za / campaign / man-in-a-suit-world-recordattempt Here are some pics in Dropbox: https:// www. dropbox. com / sc / i1nw0 sb8pdtlztz / AAC7MsYKgeAcb4pRDyCtEBhFa Link to Jumping Kids: https:// www. jumpingkids. org. za / Link to Laidlow Coaching: https:// laidlowtribe. com /
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