Eddie ‘Barefoot Bandito’ Vega has officially retired!
The 2014 GSPN Athlete of the Year and Guinness Book of World Records holder announced the following earlier today. “After 12 years and 302 marathons/ultras of which 202 were run exclusively barefoot, I am officially announcing my RETIREMENT from participating in marathon events. I think it’s the right time for me to move on to a less strenuous and less costly sport like golf. I am going to quit while I’m ahead and I’m happy with what I have accomplished in the sport.
For one, I set four Guinness World Records:
* Most barefoot marathons run in one year (101)
* Most barefoot marathons run on consecutive days (10)
* Most barefoot half-marathons run on consecutive days (12)
* Most barefoot half-marathons run in one month (18)
And, as the Barefoot Bandito, I was able to create awareness for kids who do not have shoes and, thanks to the support of my generous donors, I was able raise enough funds to distribute over 30,000 pairs of shoes and tsinelas (slippers) to children in the remote areas of the Philippines.
I’ve also achieved the following personal goals:
* Completed a marathon in all 7 Continents (once)
* Completed a marathon in all 8 Continents (once)
* Completed a marathon in all 50 States with shoes (once)
* Completed a marathon in all 50 States barefoot (2 times)
* First and only to complete a marathon in all 50 States barefoot in less than one year
* Completed a marathon in 26 different countries
* Achieved Titanium Status 5 times as a Marathon Maniac
* Ran enough marathon miles (8,334) to loop around all 48 States
And, lastly, I have been most fortunate to have made at least a thousand new friends since I started running marathons and I will always be forever thankful to those who supported my cause, www.gofundme.com/eddievega.”
(AP/Carlos Osorio)
