Man Wins Age Group In Borrowed Shoes
- By Duncan Larkin
- Published Jan. 27, 2011
He finished the race with three shoes.
At last weekend’s Carlsbad Marathon, Andrew Minck of Brooklyn, New York started out wearing a yellow pair of shoes and finished in a white pair. This unusual situation unfolded when Minck borrowed the yellow running shoes from a friend. They were too small and by mile 18, he was in a lot of pain. Desperate, he decided to yell out to the crowd: “Does anyone have [size] 10½ or 11 shoes?”
Race volunteer Scott Heidemann responded. He kindly removed his shoes and handed them to Minck, informing him to donate them afterwards.
But there was a problem.
Minck’s computerized racing chip was still attached to his left yellow shoe and so he had to finish the race carrying the shoe with him.
Heidemann, who was manning a water station, ended up walked around in his socks.
Another human interest story from the race: half-marathon finisher Will Navaja approached his girlfriend at the end of the race with his finishing medal around his neck. It was inscribed with the following question: “Will you marry me?”
For More: Sign On San Diego
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: Carlsbad Half Marathon / Carlsbad Marathon / finishing medal / race volunteers / Running Shoes / uncomfortable shoes / Water Station
Duncan Larkin
Duncan Larkin is the news editor at Competitor.com and a freelance journalist who’s been covering the sport of running for over five years. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. His first running book, RUN SIMPLE, was released last July.