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An actual real-life hero ran the London Marathon dressed as Big Ben

To the total stranger who seemingly ran all 26.2 miles of the London Marathon while wearing a full-body Big Ben costume: I salute you.

Who does this? What kind of a brain dreams it up? There's actually a good, heartwarming reason. But first, you need to see it. Behold the excellence of this absolute real life superhero....

Meet Lukas Bates, who is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a landmark building. Live👉https://t.co/Iu4lj6ixO3 📺 @BBCOne 📻 @5livesport extra#GetInspired #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/e7RUIG0dSL

— BBC Get Inspired (@bbcgetinspired) April 28, 2019

While yes, that tweet is correct about the Guinness attempt, Bates had a selfless reason for dressing up like Big Ben for 26 miles. He did the run to benefit Alzheimer's research in the UK, and at the time of this writing he has so far managed to secure £3,645.48.

As Bates himself wrote on the above-linked website:

I've seen the ravages of Alzheimer's disease firsthand in my own family, so I think this is a lovely effort.

Getting back to that world record attempt, to be clear, Bates was specifically running to break the record for fastest marathon dressed as a landmark. I bet you didn't know that was a thing (I sure didn't), but now you do.

Big Ben is of course London's famed clock tower situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. For my money, pop culture references to Big Ben don't get much better than that one moment from National Lampoon's European Vacation.

As delightful as Bates costumed run was for us, the viewers at home, it didn't unfold without frustrations. Notably, Bates ran into some technical issues when he reached the finish line but couldn't cross it, because his costume was too tall.

Legendary.

Kudos to Bates for sticking out the whole race, and for using the sure-to-go-viral moment (hi!) as an opportunity to raise money for a worthwhile cause.

WATCH: 102-year-old great-grandma skydives 14,000 feet for charity