Running barefoot in a marathon is nothing new. Abebe Bikila ran barefoot in Rome to win gold at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
But running barefoot while wearing a kilt? That’s a new one.
Todd Wheeler, 49, of Navarre Beach, Florida, has run barefoot at the Marine Corps Marathon eight times, including Sunday's event in Arlington, Virginia. He said he dumped the shoes for the 26.2-mile race because it improved his running mechanics, WTOP reported.
“It forces you to run with that good form. You will run gently,” he told the television station.
Wheeler, whose Pinterest nickname is Being Barefoot, said he ran with the kilt to represent his military heritage.
"I'm retired Air Force," Wheeler told WTOP. "And this is an Air Force tartan. It's actually registered with Scottish registry of tartans.
“And, it draws attention. Which I like,” he told the television station.
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