He's done it! Eddie Vega has run more barefoot marathons in one year than anyone else!

EddieVega.jpg
He's done it! Eddie Vega has run more barefoot marathons in one year than anyone else!


We're reported on him before, and yes, he is a BRS member! Eddie Vega, 54, known as the Barefoot Bandito from Raleigh, NC, set his mind to it and now he has accomplished his goal of running more barefoot marathons in one year than anyone else. At 50 barefoot marathons, he's done that! But wait, he's not finished! Because the year isn't over yet, he won't be contacting the Guinness Book of World Records until it is. He plans to continue running until December 31!

For more pictures of Eddie, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/pkg9d2l


Read on:

The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Barry Saunders column -- http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/09/3556197/the-news-observer-raleigh-nc-barry.html

"Barefoot Bandito" is first man to finish 50 full marathons -- http://www.kuam.com/story/25972055/...dito-is-first-man-to-finish-50-full-marathons
 
Hmmmm, Not to take away from his accomplishment, I'm completely impressed, but, am I missing something? He's running barefoot to raise money to buy shoes for kids who don't have them... Aren't they better off not wearing shoes? Don't we read and write an abundance of forums and blogs extolling the virtues of being barefoot? I'll bet the kids he's purporting to "help by putting shoes on their feet" have healthier feet then a lot of us. I'd be more supportive if he was promoting foot health, or public barefootedness.
(I'm sure I'm going to regret posting this, but, let the rebuff and rebut begin.)
 
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Maybe its just me. But, I loved hearing this story. I loved hearing about the barefoot marathons. Until. I read about his charity. I know that we live in a modern world with clean water, and clean streets. But, I dont see how putting one pair of shoes, on a kid, who is going to stand in sewage, and then soak it into their feet all day, is a really good thing. I appologize for my ignorance. But it seems that the BAREFOOT community is almost getting a slap in the face by raising money to put shoes on kids who have been barefoot all their lives. And what happens when that one charity pair of shoes wears out? They get to put their softened feet back into the sewage? I dont doubt the sincerity of Ed. I dont doubt the sincerity of the missionaries who felt indiginous people were in need of civilization. You can go very far with the best of intentions, in the wrong direction.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Poisonwood-Bible-Barbara-Kingsolver-ebook/dp/B000QTE9WU#_
 
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Maybe its just me. But, I loved hearing this story. I loved hearing about the barefoot marathons. Until. I read about his charity. I know that we live in a modern world with clean water, and clean streets. But, I dont see how putting one pair of shoes, on a kid, who is going to stand in sewage, and then soak it into their feet all day, is a really good thing. I appologize for my ignorance. But it seems that the BAREFOOT community is almost getting a slap in the face by raising money to put shoes on kids who have been barefoot all their lives. And what happens when that one charity pair of shoes wears out? They get to put their softened feet back into the sewage? I dont doubt the sincerity of Ed. I dont doubt the sincerity of the missionaries who felt indiginous people were in need of civilization. You can go very far with the best of intentions, in the wrong direction.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Poisonwood-Bible-Barbara-Kingsolver-ebook/dp/B000QTE9WU#_
Don't be so surprised. Humanity has always done the worst things with the best intentions.
 
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raising money to put shoes on kids who have been barefoot all their lives.
I'm not sure that they are actually putting shoes on the habitually barefoot. Odds are that the shoes are going to poor shoddies in poor countries through the reseller process. Take a look at the lengthy article, that I referenced. There's nothing about giving shoes to the habitually barefoot.
http://www.thebarefootrunners.org/index.php?posts/157709