Karim El Hayani should soon make his entry into the Guinness World Records.
Even his performance, as impressive as it is unusual, will have to be validated by the experts of the famous book who will examine and dissect his exploit before delivering their verdict within a few weeks.
On March 3, the Spanish runner tackled the very little-known half-marathon record ... contested on snow.
On the shores of Lac Beauport near Quebec, the athlete has covered around fifteen 1300-meter loops traced around the water point.
Cap on the head with a simple undershirt but above all without shoes or socks, Karim El Hayani has won his bet by running the 21.09754 km in 1h36 minutes, half an hour less than the reference time established in 2007 by the Dutchman Wim Hof (2h06min and 34 sec), nicknamed “the ice man”.
A nickname that could go like a glove to the Spaniard whose efforts on frozen ground and in a negative temperature of the order of -10 degrees were rewarded.
Bare arms without shoes on ice in -10 ° C
Because the weather conditions the few days before his attempt did not help Karim El Hayani, ambassador of the Running Clinic, a training organization in the field of injury prevention in running.
A warm spell with rain then a polar cold going down to -33 ° C complicated his bet already made difficult due to the presence of two blisters on the feet before embarking on the course.
“It changed everything because I couldn't run at the pace I wanted.
I had to learn 20 minutes before the start to run on an ice skating track ”, confided the new
Distance +
world record holder
, overcome by“ an incredible emotion ”.
Karim El Hayani's feet hanging out after his attempt.Instagram Karim El Hayani
Karim El Hayani has been a barefoot runner for many years.
From his Moroccan childhood even, then in Spain where he played football without shoes.
“I tried to wear shoes, but I didn't feel good, I didn't have the right technique and I had some physical problems with my knees and back because of it,” he explains.
By running barefoot, you really use the natural technique, which is much more relaxed, and you avoid a lot of physical problems.
And then the feeling is incredible! ”Added this runner who was able to draw inspiration from what Zola Budd was doing a few decades ago.
Like Zola Budd, the long-distance running star of the 80s
In the 1980s this South African athlete was known to never use shoes on athletics tracks.
A peculiarity which did not handicap this specialist in cross-country races, world cross country champion in 1985 and 1986 then holder of the world record of 5,000 meters.
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