We’ve coated some spectacular accomplishments by runners in non-traditional operating footwear not too long ago, however this one would possibly prime all of them: earlier this month, on the Cadbury Marathon in Tasmania, Australia, 27-year-old Dan Camac of Adelaide set a brand new unofficial marathon report whereas carrying a pair of Crocs—changing into the primary runner to interrupt the 2 hour and 50-minute mark within the versatile foam shoe.
Camac shared on his Strava web page that he solely did just a few operating strides and a parkrun within the footwear earlier than the large race. In an interview with 10 Information Australia, Camac mentioned his motivation got here from scrolling by way of the Guinness World Data web site. “I’m at all times on the lookout for a brand new problem, and I already owned a pair of Crocs,” he mentioned.
The earlier report for a Crocs-wearing marathon was set by American software program engineer Kevin Leimkuhler on the 2024 New York Metropolis Marathon. Leimkuhler ran a time of two hours and 51 minutes, leaving Camac with a good margin within the last few kilometres.
Heading into the race, Camac felt assured he might break the report, given his earlier marathon finest of two:34 and his expertise coping with discomfort as an ultrarunner. “It sucked,” Camac mentioned about operating a marathon in Crocs. “I used to be fading on the finish, however managed to carry on for the report.”
For his effort to be formally acknowledged, Camac can submit an utility to Guinness World Data with witnesses and proof of his consequence; ratification often takes just a few months for Guinness World Data to evaluate the appliance, study the proof and validate marathon information. No matter recognition, operating a marathon in non-traditional footwear—like Crocs or carbon-plated sandals—is a formidable feat in its personal proper.