Jules (22) has to let record attempt Marathon on Crocs after 30 kilometers: « The signal from my body could not be clearer » (yellow)

The 22-year-old Gelenaar Jules Vangeel hung his cancelling citizen last year after an adventure at an international top level for many years and was looking for a new sporting challenge. For example, the idea of ​​running the marathon on crocs and to break the world record in that highly unusual discipline. When he started the Marathon from Brussels to Leuven on Sunday within the European Running Championship with that striking footwear, that record was more than 2 hours and 51 minutes.

« I started excellently and ran the first part smoother and faster than I had stated, » says Jules Vangeel. “The result was that I did have a buffer in time, but actually not in energy. Normally during training I can keep 17 to 17.5 kilometers per hour and recover at the same time. But now I experienced the game that I didn’t feel like I was feeling. I decided to take it a bit quietly and just go to 14 to 14.5 kilometers.” ”

Know limits

But to his own surprise, that did not bring any physical recovery. “On the contrary. When I looked at my smartwatch just before a supply post, I not only discovered that my pace was even lower than I thought, but that my heart rate was at the same time at 190. Mamma MiaI really don’t know myself. As a top athlete I know my own body very well and I know where my limits are, I am often confronted with that in my life. But now I really thought: What is this?« 

When I looked at my smartwatch just before a supply post, I not only discovered that my pace was even lower than I thought, but that my heartbeat was at the same time at 190

Jules Vangeel

Top athlete (with or without crocs)

The young Kempenaar decided to take the time in the supply post to charge some forces and left again. « But I didn’t get rid of that bad feeling. If this had been in the last few kilometers, I would have continued. But now I still had to walk for a full hour. It started to play through my head that the day before two people had to be resuscitated. It often happens that other people are worried about my limits, but for the first time I got worried about my body. »

Just some blisters

In the search for a statement, the unusual running shoes are urgent, especially because Jules Vangeel had actually done his running training with normal running shoes in recent months, not with Crocs. « I dare not say whether it had to do with the crocs. Even more, I had no problems at all from my ankles, knees or other joints. At most a number of Bleins under my feet, but no one has never stopped a marathon for that. No, I was completely surprised by my own ticker, » says Jules VanGeel.

Saying that the disappointment dominates is not entirely correct. “It was more than the crazy plan to break the world record marathon-op-crocs. I wanted to fill the sporting hole after kayaking and want to make people aware of the organization effective, that donating effectively. Those goals were of course made mega if I had taken the record, but that climax was now, but that climax Do not do any other fools to relax for the time being.