A runner took on the Chicago Marathon in an unexpected way by racing in high heels. Find out why he embraced this unique challenge and the important cause behind it.
While most runners are on the hunt for the perfect race-day shoes, one athlete took a different approach. Curtis Hargrove, a runner from Edmonton, Alberta, well-known for his charity marathon efforts, decided to take on the Chicago Marathon on October 13 in high heels in an attempt to set a unique record.
The current record for the fastest marathon run by a man in high heels stands at 5:13:27, set by Oscar Eriksen from the U.K. in 2023.
Hargrove donned the unconventional footwear to raise awareness and funds for the Stepping Stones Crisis Society, a nonprofit that provides support to victims of domestic violence.
His goal was to help raise money for the construction of a new shelter and transitional housing for women and children facing abuse.
“This cause is very close to my heart. It’s crucial for our community, and I just want to do my part,” Hargrove shared with CTV News earlier in the year, after running the Edmonton Marathon in stilettos.
Since running his first marathon at age 15, Hargrove has taken on many impressive challenges, including running 34 marathons in 34 days across Alberta and British Columbia, raising $50,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
He also walked nearly 200 miles in 4-inch heels from Cold Lake to Edmonton to draw attention to domestic violence.
Despite his best efforts in Chicago, Hargrove’s high-heel marathon didn’t go as planned, and he finished in 7:05:11. “I started way too fast, completing the first 10 kilometers in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and was still on track at the halfway mark,” Hargrove wrote in a Facebook update.
Unfortunately, at around 25 kilometers, his feet were covered in blisters, forcing him to stop for medical assistance before continuing the race.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who cheered me on, shared their stories of domestic violence, and contributed to the cause. Your support means everything,” he said.
Although he missed the record, Hargrove, who has now completed 310 marathons, remains focused on his larger mission. “The pain from my blisters is temporary compared to the suffering some women and children face every day,” Hargrove told Runner’s World. “My blisters will heal, but for some, their wounds might not.”
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