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Japanese runner keeps running her race, even after losing her shoes

Photo credit: Mainichi/Daisuke Wada
Photo credit: Mainichi/Daisuke Wada

From Runner's World

A relay runner displayed true grit when she kept running her stage of a race despite losing both shoes. By the time Hiromi Katagai (29) finished her 10.9km leg, he socks were torn and bloody. was taking part in the 40th All Japan Industrial Teams Women's Ekiden on Sunday 22 November when she lost both of her shoes on the course. Refusing to give up, she crossed the finish line of her 10.9K segment wearing just torn and bloody socks.

Speaking to local press after the event, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance head coach Naoto Suzuki said, 'she gave us a really good effort despite going shoeless'.

The 29-year-old runner lost both of her shoes at around the 6K mark of her run. Her team were in ninth place when she took the sash, but dropped down to 14th by the time she completed her run. The team finished the competition in 13th place overall. Despite not having any shoes for 4k of the run, she completed the 10.9K segment in 36 minutes, 33 seconds.

According to her coach, her shoe laces started to loosen and become uncomfortable part way through her race and fell off completely when she sped up.

An examination by the medical team after the event confirmed Katagi had no serious injuries to her feet, other than abrasions due to the road.

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