As I shared earlier this week, the last time I attempted to move at a quickened pace in my Crocs-tacular shoes, I tripped and fell and spilled at least $1.25-worth of iced coffee all over myself. And that wasn’t even running! That was just adding a little extra hustle to catch a train (which of course I missed as I was weeping over the lost coffee). I’m not a runner. I’m impressed by people who a) do it, and b) enjoy doing it; it’s just not my jam. I literally have a magnet on my fridge that says “I often think about how quickly I’d die if I had to run for my life.” So imagine my amazement at learning that not only did someone run the NYC Marathon last weekend wearing Crocs, but he also broke a world record for completing a marathon in the comfy plastic shoes. When asked about his choice of footwear, Kevin Leimkuhler said, “It kind of seemed like a fun way to do New York.”
Kevin Leimkuhler, a 31-year-old software engineer, not only ran the New York City Marathon in Crocs, but he broke the world record for running a marathon in the foam shoes, finishing in 2:51:27.
“It kind of seemed like a fun way to do New York,” Leimkuhler, who originally hails from Philadelphia but now lives in Denver, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I know that the New York City Marathon gets a lot of spectators, and since I’m from the East Coast, I could have friends and family come up.”
“I didn’t do it as like a total joke,” Leimkuhler points out. “I did it because I knew it would be a very fun and memorable way to run that marathon.”
And, it turns out, it was also a very comfortable way to run his fifth marathon.
“I had zero issues. My feet have been in worse shape after marathons,” he said, adding that when he’s run in “super shoes” — the nickname for fancier, and pricier, carbon-plated shoes, “I have like a really bad Achilles blister.”
This time, Leimkuhler says, “I didn’t feel like I had to grip anything, I didn’t feel like my foot was striking the ground any differently.”
“I had no issues with them staying on. I did not lose any toenails. I don’t have any blisters. Just typical marathon soreness,” he said, adding that he finished the race just 13 minutes longer than his personal best.
To prepare for running in Crocs, he said he ran about 40 miles in a pair to
ensure he had the right size.He didn’t do anything special during the run, he says. He used the anti-chafe lubricant Body Glide, as he always does, and wore his normal running socks. The Jibbitz showing his finishing time, he shared, were sent to him by Crocs and not applied to the shoes until after the race.
While schools across the nation are banning Crocs for being a tripping hazard, Leimkuhler says he didn’t have any issues with stumbling in the bulky shoes.
“I ran the entire way. I stopped once to hug my sister, and that was the only time I really stopped.”
“I don’t know if I’m gonna run my next marathon in Crocs, but I could certainly see myself running in Crocs from time to time,” he shared.
“I have actually found them to be a viable running shoe,” he says. “They are refreshingly simple and just feel comfortable enough.”
“I have actually found them to be a viable running shoe.” I smell an endorsement deal! And sweat, for sure, but the deal can’t be that far behind. Crocs obviously knows about Kevin, having sent him the Jibbitz for his record-breaking run time. This is precisely the kind of good PR they’d want now, what with the rash of schools banning Crocs for safety reasons. The company could scarcely buy better publicity than Kevin’s photo finish! And speaking of photos, I want to commend Kevin on his sartorial picks for the run. His Crocs were an orangey-red, and paired with his teal blue shirt the look was very Howard Johnson’s chic. If there’s anything that will get me into the sport of running, it would be a fashion color story. Only instead of breaking a world record, I’ll likely be breaking an ankle. As always, wear your Crocs responsibly!
Man Runs New York City Marathon in Crocs, Breaks World Record: 'I Did Not Lose Any Toenails' (Exclusive) https://t.co/lfpNk5Tj4I
— People (@people) November 7, 2024
I love the color.
His interview reads like an ad for Crocs, but denying it’s an ad for Crocs. I’m so confused. Nice colors though!
I’m a runner, I just finished my 6th half marathon last weekend. I would never have thought to run in crocs, but hey it sounds like he got a better result than with some of the expensive shoes that I buy.
As for the blisters, the struggle is real even with $160 shoes and $30 socks. I got my best result by just slathering Squirrel’s Nut Butter all over my feet. Not one flipping blister!
I never bought Crocs, does everyone have them? Am I the weirdo? What is so special about them, I don’t understand. Anyway, I am not a runner either. I am impressed by anyone who can and enjoy doing it.
They’re very lightweight, comfortable, inexpensive, and come in a variety of colors and styles.
I work multiple 12 hour shifts a week in a pharmacy, and after 18 years in this industry I only wear crocs (although I’d never be caught dead in the wacky looking ones he has). I alternate between my mary-janes, 2 ballet flats, close-toed classic black clogs, and their sneakers.
Wal-Mart.com has a cute little croc sneaker that’s under 39.99 and everytime I hear my co-workers dropping hundreds of dollars on the latest trendy supportive shoe I just roll my eyes.
Plus they’re waterproof!
@angryjane Ty for your post I had no idea Crocs came in styles beyond different colours and also those weird button flare things you put on them. I am going to check those out.
And for some reason reading your post I am reminded of the only truly funny thing my brother ever said, about 15 years ago “I wouldn’t ever wear Crocs, even if they gave me head while I was walking down the street wearing them”
Hilarious – I’m Australian and I’ve never owned crocs because they are so damned expensive to buy here (compared with other slip on shoes).
I just spent 24 hours in a hospital; a good half of those folks wore Crocs. I could hear them squeaking down the hallways! I figure if people who are on their feet all day/all night wear them, there must be something to them.
Crocs are incredibly ugly – and also the comfiest shoe I’ve ever had. Just finished a 4 day trip to Disney world where I was on my feet all day long. I wore crocs the entire time (usually wear my beloved hokas) and they were amazing. Just as comfortable as a sneaker with the added bonus of being waterproof, so when the inevitable storms showed up, they were fully dry within an hour. My kids are swimmers and collect the goofy croc collabs for fun.
I got hokas for the first time 6 months ago and I have to say I’m pretty disappointed. I only use them for walking (granted on some light trails but with packed down surfaces) and the sole patches started peeling off them a month ago. So squishy and comfortable when I first got them but definitely not worth the price.
I always struggle because I have a narrow heel and wide forefoot and I’m very prone to blisters. I was hopeful about the hokas. Maybe I need to consider Crocs too! I wear them inside but I’ve never worn them for extended walking outside.