The two-hour barrier in the marathon was almost broken this past weekend when Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:00:25 in a Nike-backed human science project that required fancy shoes. What if the best running shoes aren’t ones with a swoosh?
One of the most impressive running performances of the year took place at this weekend’s 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis, where 18-year-old Benjamin Pachev ran 71:53 for 16th place while wearing Crocs. His father, Alexander Pachev, was not too far behind and ran 76:07 in Crocs as well.
Benjamin Pachev does it by choice and says the Crocs can last him 2,000 miles while he averages about 65 miles/week.
“It’s like having a little fan that’s just streaming air over your foot,” Benjamin told FOX 59.
Bet you the lab rats at Nike didn’t think about that one!
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Inside Fiji’s Fiery Battle Against Plastics
- Column: As Biden Vies to Salvage Nomination, Growing Chorus of Democrats Say It’s Too Late
- How to Watch Lost in 2024 Without Setting Yourself Up for Disappointment
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- The Rise of the Thirst Trap Villain
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com