- Fact or Fiction: Humans have been wearing shoes for only the last 500 years
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Fiction! Humans have actually been wearing shoes of some sort for at least 40,000 years. Analysis of skeletons from Tiankyuan Cave in China showed changes in toe bones potentially associated with decreases in strain on the forefoot from not walking barefoot. No shoes from that time have been found, but the oldest proof of humans wearing shoes is visible in cave art discovered in Altamira Cave in Spain from roughly 13,000-15,000 years ago. These paintings, the first depiction of shoes in art, show hunters wearing animal hide and fur boots.
The oldest actual footwear discovered to date is from the Fort Rock Basin in Oregon. Preserved below a layer of volcanic ash, these sandals were carbon dated to between 9,200 and 10,500 years old (7000 to 8000 BCE). They are twined with sagebrush bark. Sophisticated shoes have been found dating to around 5,000 or 5,500 years ago (3000 to 3500 BCE). These shoes are made of one or more types of leather and tie with laces.
Shoes did not develop at one time and were probably created by multiple groups based on their specific environment and needs. Despite the early development of shoe wear, many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, did not routinely use shoes. In fact, Alexander the Great conquered the world with barefoot armies. The Romans were the first to design separate shoes for the right and left foot, issuing these to their soldiers. Generally, shoes were made at home or by a cobbler as time went on, and there was no standardized sizing system until the 19th century.
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- Fact or Fiction: The most difficult foot race has only been completed 18 times by 15 runners
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Fact: The Barkley Marathons, commonly accepted as the most difficult foot race, takes place annually in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. The event, first run in 1986, is limited to 40 participants, and only 15 runners have ever completed it.
Here are the numbers: The course, which changes every year and is largely on unmarked terrain, consists of five loops around a “20-mile” course. The total distance is somewhere between 100 and 130 miles. The combined vertical elevation over the race is more than 60,000 feet, which is equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest twice. Participants have 60 hours to complete the race, which goes on day and night. Completing three loops is called the “fun run.”
The challenge begins with the application, and requirements and timing are kept secret. The application fee is $1.60, and each entry requires an essay as to why the runner should be allowed to compete. Successful applicants receive a “letter of condolence” announcing their acceptance into the race field.
Additional fees vary from year to year and typically relate to what Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell, the race’s designer, happens to need that year (a pair of white socks, a flannel shirt, your standard basics). A license plate from the entrant’s state or country is also required. Each year the number 1 bib is given to one runner who has absolutely no right to be involved in this type of race and who has no chance of finishing. This entrant is known as the “human sacrifice.”
Participants write down the race course based on the master copy, drawn on a map of the park. The actual course is not marked. The race director takes no responsibility for copying errors. The race start time varies each year but is set within a 12-hour window (midnight to noon). Naturally, this is not announced in advance.
A conch shell is blown an hour before the race starts -- an appropriate warning, and the fun begins when the race director lights a cigarette. Between nine and 14 books are scattered over the course, and runners must tear out the page corresponding to their bib number to prove they actually followed the course. New bib numbers are distributed each lap. The runners don’t get any help on the course, with the exception of two water stops (though at that time of year in Tennessee, the water bottles may be frozen. Or replaced with alcohol, all in good fun). Taps is played on a bugle for each participant who drops out.
In 2006, Dan Baglione set the record for the slowest race pace. He got lost two miles into the race and found his way back to the start line 32 hours later, which worked out to 16 hours per mile. The few participants who make it to the fifth loop tend to hallucinate, and some have fallen asleep in the course.
The race prize for finishing the Barkley Marathons? You get to stop running.
Cantrell has lent this creativity to other original races:
- A Race for the Ages: Runners 40 and under have 40 hours to run as many miles as they can on a course that is a 1-mile loop. Runners over age 40 have the number of hours equivalent to their age to run as many miles as they can. Whoever runs the most miles wins. The current record is 230 miles, set by Bob Becker at the age of 74 in 2019.
- Big’s Backyard Ultra: The course is a 4.1667-mile loop around Cantrell’s property. Every runner who completes the loop in under 60 minutes and is at the start line ready for the next loop stays in the race. Each loop starts on the hour. Once you finish the loop, you can do whatever you want until the next loop starts. The race continues until only one person is left. Everyone else receives a did not finish, or DNF. Courtney Dauwalter is the current record holder, as of 2020, with 68 hours and 283.33 miles.
Are you ready to race now? Let’s go!
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- Fact or Fiction: The oldest evidence of modern evolved human foot anatomy dates to about 1.5 million years ago
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Fact! The oldest evidence of modern human foot anatomy, found in northern Kenya, are from about 1.5 million years ago. These prints have a rounded heel, human-like arch, and a big toe that is parallel to the other toes and distinct from our more ape-like origins. These prints most likely belonged to either Homo ergaster or an early Homo erectus. The oldest footprints of an anatomically modern Homo sapiens foot date to 117,000 years ago, from Langebaan Lagoon in South Africa.
The oldest human-like footprints, as opposed to ape-like prints, date to 3.6 million years ago. These prints, found in Laetoli, Tanzania, were most likely made by Australopithecus afarensis. Preserved in volcanic ash, they demonstrate an upright bipedal gait and a big toe in line with the rest of the foot.
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- Fact or Fiction: The longest certified foot race is 3,100 miles but takes place on only one city block
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“How do you define a real running race? It's a real running race when you have to cut your hair in the middle of the race. All other races are just considered sprints.” - Ashprihanal Aalato
Fact: The longest certified foot race, the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Race, stretches to over 3,000 miles. Completing this race is equal to running across the United States -- and then doing 11 more marathons.
But hey, the scenery has to be nice! Except that this race actually involves running around the same extended city block in Queens, New York, 5,649 times. Runners have to complete it within 52 days, which means they have to keep a pace of at least 59.6 miles per day between 6 a.m. and midnight. Ashprihanal Aalato holds the race record, finishing in just over 40 days with a mind-blowing average pace of 76.7 miles per day. Even more mind-boggling, many competitors have completed this race multiple times.
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- Fact or Fiction? The foot has 26 bones
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It is often quoted that the foot has 26 bones. If you include the bones that make up the ankle, there are 28 bones. This is not entirely accurate though. People generally have 2 sesamoid bones below the base of the big toe, similar to knee caps. Additionally, there is a whole assortment of ossicles or small bones that some people have and others do not. And if this is not complicated enough, some people have bones in the foot that are developmentally connected as one bone instead of two. A common example of this is the last two bones in the small toe. Put it all together and between both feet this accounts for about 25% of all the bones in your body!
- Fact or Fiction? The world's largest feet ever recorded were 18.5 inches long
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Robert Wadlow (1918-1940) had the largest feet ever recorded. He was 8 foot 11 inches tall and his shoe size was a 37AA (18.5 inches long).
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- Fact or Fiction? The world's smallest feet are just 5 inches long
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Jyoti Amge, the world’s smallest person, has the smallest feet of any adult, 3.74 inches long. That is equivalent to a toddler size 2 shoe. She wears size 4 shoes though, to accommodate leg braces.
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- Fact or Fiction? Your feet sweat more than any other part of your body
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The toes and bottoms of the feet have some of the highest concentrations of sweat glands in the body. There are about 500 sweat glands/cm2 on the bottom of the feet, adding up to over 260,000 glands in total. These glands produce relatively less sweat than other areas of the body though, and only account for 2.6-3.6% of the relative contribution towards evaporative heat loss overall.
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- Fact or Fiction? The most letters typed alphabetically in one minutes using the feet is 251 letters
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Lui Wei lost both arms in an accident at the age of 10. After many hours of practice, he has learned to play the piano, and won China’s Got Talent in 2010. He holds the Guiness Book of World Records for most letters typed alphabetically in 1 minute using the feet: 251 letters.
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- Fact or Fiction? The largest feet ever recorded were 15 inches
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Actually, Robert Wadlow (1918-1940) had the largest feet ever recorded. He was 8 foot 11 inches tall and his shoe size was 37AA (18.5 inches long).
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Robert Wadlow: Tallest man ever | Guinness World Records
- Fact or Fiction: The smallest recorded adult feet can fit inside a size 2 toddler shoe
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Jyoti Amge, the world’s smallest person, has the smallest feet of any adult, 3.74 inches long. That is equivalent to a toddler size 2 shoe. She wears size 4 shoes though, to accommodate leg braces.
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- Fact or Fiction? The world record for longest toenails is 7 feet
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Louise Hollis is reported to hold the world record for longest toenails. Set in 1991, the combined length of all 10 toenails was 87 inches. When she wears shoes, they need to be open toed and at least 3 inches high so the nails don’t drag on the ground. According to Guiness Book of World Records, she currently keeps the nails about 6 inches long each.
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- Fact or Fiction? A Rubik's cube has been solved using only the feet in less than 1 minute
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The fastest time to solve a standard 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube using only the feet is held by Mohammed Aiman Koli (India). He solved the puzzle in 15.56 seconds at a competition in 2019.
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- Fact or Fiction? The longest toes, excluding elephantitis, are 4 inches long
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Actually, the record for longest toes (excluding elephantitis) is held by Matthew McGrory. His big toes measured 5 inches long, and the little toes 1.5 inches.
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- Fact or Fiction? The thickest skin on your body is on your feet
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This skin on the bottom of your feet is very special, and is designed to protect you from the rigors of life. It is some of the thickest skin on your body, about 1.5mm thick. It also has one of the highest levels of nerve density, just behind that of the fingers. Things that compromise normal function of this structure can result in ulcers, infection, and worse. Diabetes is the most common cause of damage to the small peripheral nerves in the feet.
- Fact or Fiction? It's possible to become a certified scuba diver even if you have no arms
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Jessica Cox was born without arms. Despite this, she has learned to use her feet like most people would use their hands. She is a has an unrestricted driver’s license, is a licensed pilot, a certified scuba diver, and holds a third degree black belt in taekwondo. She can even put in and take out her own contact lenses using her toes.
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- Fact or Fiction? It's impossible to play the guitar using only your feet
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Actually, there are many talented people out there who use their feet like hands. Mark Goffeney, born without arms, was a talented musician, playing guitar and bass with his feet. Known as “Big Toe,” he was a professional musician. This documentary is a must watch.
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- Fact or Fiction? Primates such as monkeys have more highly developed maps of their toes in the somatosensory cortex of the brain compared to humans
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The somatosensory cortex of the brain contains a highly organized map representing the body. In humans, the region representing the hands and fingers is particularly well developed, but this is not the case for the feet and toes. In fact, most people do not have an individual region for each toe. In contrast, primates such as monkeys have a highly developed map of their toes. To study whether this is something that has been lost in evolution, or is acquired as a result of lack of use of the toes in modern humans, Dempsey-Jones et al used functional MRI to study people born without arms who use their feet for everyday tasks. Interestingly, these individuals had highly developed toe and foot regions in their brains, similar to the hand and finger maps seen in most people. Additionally, the “unused” hand areas of their brain appeared to be recruited to support skilled toe movement and function. This demonstrates the extreme plasticity of the brain.
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- Fact or Fiction? The most letters typed alphabetically using the feet is 150 letters
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Lui Wei lost both arms in an accident at the age of 10. After many hours of practice, he has learned to play the piano, and won China’s Got Talent in 2010. He holds the Guiness Book of World Records for most letters typed alphabetically in 1 minute using the feet: 251 letters.
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- Fact or Fiction? The longest walkable distance without involving boats or planes would take someone three years to complete
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“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time” Steven Wright
The longest walkable distance using roads on earth is from L'Agulhas (near Cape Town), South Africa to Magadan, Russia. It crosses 17 countries and 6 time zones, and involves no boat or air travel. This route covers about 14,000 miles and would take someone walking 8 hours per day over 3 years to complete (if you survive it, since it goes through some of the most dangerous places in the world).
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- Bonus Facts: Running
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“There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness; many a runner has crossed it.” Dean Karnazes
The longest distance run without stopping to eat or sleep was set by Dean Karnazes October 12-15, 2005. He ran 350 miles over 80 hours and 44 minutes without a break. This included taking in about 40,000 calories, going through a lot of shoes, and hallucinating during parts of the last 50 miles. Separately, he once ran 50 marathons in 50 different states, in 50 days. After finishing the final marathon in New York, he then ran back to where he started, St. Louis.
The longest time run continuously without stopping was set by Kim Allen in 2013. While she only ran 310 miles (332 laps around the same park), she didn’t stop for 86 hours, 11 minutes.
The longest distance run continuously while taking breaks to eat and sleep is 12,526 miles, completed in 263 days by Istvan Sipos.
Serge Girard holds the record for longest distance run in 365 days. He ran about 16,784 miles, going through 50 shoes and 25 countries.
Among other ultramarathon records set by Yiannis Kouros is the 24 hour track world record. He ran 188 miles around a track in 24 hours-- averaging 7 minutes and 40 seconds per mile.
The longest running streak is held by Ron Hill. Starting December 21, 1964, he put in a run for 52 years and 39 days before having to miss a day because of an undiagnosed heart condition in 2017.
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- Bonus Fact: The Beer Mile
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This race involves drinking 4 beers and running 4 x 400m laps (1 mile) around a track in alternating fashion, starting with a beer. The beer choice is the runner’s, but must be at least 12oz per beer and must be at least 5% alcohol. The combined residual liquid and foam from all 4 bottles must be less than 4oz. Vomiting before completing the race is penalized by having to run an additional lap. Not challenging enough? There is also a beer 2 mile race….
World Records:
Men: 4:33.06 Corey Bellemore (Canada)
Women: 6:08.51 Erin O’Mara (USA)
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- Bonus Facts: World Records
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Marathon:
Men: 2:01:39 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 4:38 minutes per mile pace
Women: 2:14:04 Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) 5:07 minutes per mile pace
10k:
Men: 26:11.00 Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) 4:13.38 minute per mile pace
Women: 29:17.45 Almaz Ayana (Ethiopia) 4:43.46 minute per mile pace
5k:
Men: 12:35.36 Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) 4:03.66 minute per mile pace
Women: 14:06.62 Letesenbet Gidey (Ethiopia) 4:33.1 minute per mile pace
Mile:
Men: 3:43.13 Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco)
Women: 4:12.33 Sifan Hassan (Netherlands)
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