While training for a marathon, some runners might test their endurance by wearing heavy backpacks, tackling steep inclines, or running in intense heat. Irene Sewell's tactic of choice? Wearing high heels for 26.2 miles at Sunday's 7 Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The 27-year-old Blacksburg, Virginia native first got the idea when she heard about a London woman who attempted a Guinness World Record by running a marathon in heels a few years ago. Unfortunately, that woman was disqualified when she took off her shoes less than halfway through the course and finished the race barefoot.
Sewell was inspired to start running when she volunteered at Chattanooga's first Ironman three years ago, and she has evidently caught the bug: She already completed two marathons before finishing her third on Sunday. The combination of her running stamina and other special skills led her to believe she could conquer the distance in heels.
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"I was actually a professional ballroom dancer for five years," Sewell said. "I thought with my dancing background, and now that I've started running, just my endurance level, I thought I could do it."
But Sewell immediately hit a learning curve while figuring out how to train for this crazy feat. At first, she reasoned every run should be done in heels in preparation for her big day. After the ligaments in her feet started to succumb to the pressure, Sewell sought help from a podiatrist, who basically discouraged her from only running in pumps.
"I did most of my runs in tennis shoes, and then I would do a three-to-seven mile run in my heels every once in awhile," Sewell said. "But I'd also wear heels a lot throughout the day just to create callouses and get my feet ready."
The pain in her feet and hips definitely took a toll along the course Sunday, but Sewell said the most stressful part was filming the entire race. Since Guinness notified Sewell that a representative was unable to attend, her friends and other witnesses had to prove her record by filming every step of the event, along with other requirements. We know how tedious it can be to set a Guinness World Record, but Sewell believes she checked every box on the list.
Since no one has held the record before, Guinness gave Sewell a standard time of 7 hours, 30 minutes to complete her marathon. She ran the Chattanooga race in 7:27:53. Now all she has to do is wait to for the Guinness team to confirm that victory is truly hers.
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Unfortunately, the 7 Bridges Marathon organizers miscalculated the race distances (again). The half marathon was 0.63 miles too short, and the full marathon was 0.63 too long. Fortunately, her friends were able to grab the race director and members of the timing crew to document the exact spot she at which finished her 26.2 miles.
"They did all they could to make sure I still had the most correct measurement and time," Sewell said. "I thank them from the bottom of my heart because they definitely didn't have to come from the finish line to the 26.2 spot to get my time."
For anyone wanting to give heel-running a shot, she has some tips for people who hope to literally go a mile (or more) in her shoes.
"The best thing I discovered to stop blisters on the ball of my foot was to use moleskin," Sewell said. "That was my biggest secret. In terms of advice, even if you're not trying to run in heels, get out and set goals. Your mind is so much stronger than your body, so if you think you can do it and you're mentally prepared, you should be able to do it."
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Editor's note: A previous version of this article said the 7 Bridges Marathon's course distance would affect runners’ Boston Marathon qualifying chances. The Boston Athletic Association determined that it will accept unadjusted results from this race. If runners achieved a qualifying time despite the course being long, the B.A.A. will accept their application for the 2019 Boston Marathon.
After a summer internship with Runner’s World in 2017, McGee has somehow convinced the team to let her keep writing for them as a freelancer. Her work for both Runner’s World and Bicycling consists mostly of news and human interest pieces. Her favorite stories to tell are ones of “ordinary” people doing extraordinary things through running and cycling, whether accomplishing personal goals, overcoming severe trials, or transforming their communities. Her writing has also appeared on ACTIVE and Paste Magazine. When she’s not running or eating, you can probably find her still eating.
