The 15th Anniversary Marathon, Gran Canaria
Marathon # 520
Barefoot Marathon # 185
Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 84
Date: October 10, 2025
My Time: 5:07:05
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
At 70, I danced Zumba just few hours after completing barefoot my 520th Marathon and an 11 km walk to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my first marathon (October 10, 2010—October 10, 2025).
For some people, one of the most important events on October 10, 2025, was the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. For me, it was the 15th anniversary of my first marathon—which I completed in Chicago 15 years ago.
It was still dark when I set off for the anniversary race in Playa del Inglés. I did three out and backs on the fairly steep 8 de Marzo Avenue, before entering the 6 km beach at sunrise and running on the beach to the Maspalomas Lighthouse. I finally reached the Meloneras Promenade where I completed the race. I walked afterwards 11 km on my way back home. Having completed 53 km (33 miles) like a walk in the park, I later pleasantly participated in a Zumba class, and did a workout in the gym.
That was in stark contrast with the painful experience in my first marathon, whose full story is featured in the book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains), excerpts:
“I took Bus 22 at the corner of Clark and Webster Streets in the early morning of October 10, 2010. I headed south to Grand Park where the race would start on Columbus Drive. Besides the tendinitis and other possible injuries, I had a much bigger concern, because I realized too late that I should have had a medical check-up, and I was aware of the deaths of runners, including in the Chicago Marathon.
The three weeks’ rest had seemingly paid off, and I thought the tendinitis was over. I wore nonetheless a flexible knee pad to try to prevent a relapse. I started the race from the corral C with the intention to keep a moderate pace throughout the course. However, given the absence of pain after 5 km, I stepped up to my average speed on the half marathon (12 km/h or 7.5 mi/h), but I’d soon realized that I had committed a serious mistake.
When I arrived in front of the zoo’s western gate, I met my wife and our three boys who were waiting for me. I reassured them that everything was fine, but my knee was already hurting me, although I had followed the advice regarding the supplements, and I was again wearing the costly ‘right shoes.’
The course continued north on Sheridan Boulevard to Addison Street, then headed back south on Broadway Street and Clark Street where I again met my family members. I spoke to them briefly, always smiling, so that they couldn’t notice my ongoing suffering. The pain had started just before the 5th mile, and kept becoming increasingly intense, which was very worrying. But I had to continue the race for a reason beyond human control. This begs the question: How can self-proclaimed modern and civilized humans so easily lose control of themselves?
I had never before felt the need to participate in marathons, I lacked preparation, I was terribly suffering from an injury, and there I was with my family at the corner of Webster and Clark Streets, a stone’s throw from our residence: I should rationally forget the race, and head straight home. But a marathon runner can hardly do so willingly, because long-distance races are driven by the ancestral instinct for survival, not by reason or heroism. When the tribe is hungry, no hunter can afford to let his prey escape. That’s why so many injured marathoners keep running, walking or even crawling, and some tragically collapse before or after crossing the finish line.
In fact, when humans start running a marathon, the reptilian brain immediately takes full control, and gives priority to the collective success of the race, which it mistakenly interprets as a persistence hunting for food, with no consideration for the injuries, pains, or even the death of some participants. By the way, the endorphins released by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus alleviate their pains to help them keep running. But after the crossing of the finish line, which the primitive brain perceives as the culmination of the hunting, the preservation of the runners becomes the priority, because such ‘efficient hunters’ are precious assets for the survival of the tribe. That’s why many of them start feeling the full pains afterwards to prevent them from aggravating their injuries.
When I reached an aid station near the 20 km mark, I walked a bit to assess the tendinitis. The knee joint became instantly so stiff that I could no more bend the leg, not to mention the acute pain when I tried to. I felt helpless, because running with an inflexible injured leg turned out to be an impossible challenge, even walking proved problematic. I nonetheless opted for walking the remaining distance...”
Barefoot Marathon # 185
Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 84
Date: October 10, 2025
My Time: 5:07:05
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
At 70, I danced Zumba just few hours after completing barefoot my 520th Marathon and an 11 km walk to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my first marathon (October 10, 2010—October 10, 2025).
For some people, one of the most important events on October 10, 2025, was the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. For me, it was the 15th anniversary of my first marathon—which I completed in Chicago 15 years ago.
It was still dark when I set off for the anniversary race in Playa del Inglés. I did three out and backs on the fairly steep 8 de Marzo Avenue, before entering the 6 km beach at sunrise and running on the beach to the Maspalomas Lighthouse. I finally reached the Meloneras Promenade where I completed the race. I walked afterwards 11 km on my way back home. Having completed 53 km (33 miles) like a walk in the park, I later pleasantly participated in a Zumba class, and did a workout in the gym.
That was in stark contrast with the painful experience in my first marathon, whose full story is featured in the book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains), excerpts:
“I took Bus 22 at the corner of Clark and Webster Streets in the early morning of October 10, 2010. I headed south to Grand Park where the race would start on Columbus Drive. Besides the tendinitis and other possible injuries, I had a much bigger concern, because I realized too late that I should have had a medical check-up, and I was aware of the deaths of runners, including in the Chicago Marathon.
The three weeks’ rest had seemingly paid off, and I thought the tendinitis was over. I wore nonetheless a flexible knee pad to try to prevent a relapse. I started the race from the corral C with the intention to keep a moderate pace throughout the course. However, given the absence of pain after 5 km, I stepped up to my average speed on the half marathon (12 km/h or 7.5 mi/h), but I’d soon realized that I had committed a serious mistake.
When I arrived in front of the zoo’s western gate, I met my wife and our three boys who were waiting for me. I reassured them that everything was fine, but my knee was already hurting me, although I had followed the advice regarding the supplements, and I was again wearing the costly ‘right shoes.’
The course continued north on Sheridan Boulevard to Addison Street, then headed back south on Broadway Street and Clark Street where I again met my family members. I spoke to them briefly, always smiling, so that they couldn’t notice my ongoing suffering. The pain had started just before the 5th mile, and kept becoming increasingly intense, which was very worrying. But I had to continue the race for a reason beyond human control. This begs the question: How can self-proclaimed modern and civilized humans so easily lose control of themselves?
I had never before felt the need to participate in marathons, I lacked preparation, I was terribly suffering from an injury, and there I was with my family at the corner of Webster and Clark Streets, a stone’s throw from our residence: I should rationally forget the race, and head straight home. But a marathon runner can hardly do so willingly, because long-distance races are driven by the ancestral instinct for survival, not by reason or heroism. When the tribe is hungry, no hunter can afford to let his prey escape. That’s why so many injured marathoners keep running, walking or even crawling, and some tragically collapse before or after crossing the finish line.
In fact, when humans start running a marathon, the reptilian brain immediately takes full control, and gives priority to the collective success of the race, which it mistakenly interprets as a persistence hunting for food, with no consideration for the injuries, pains, or even the death of some participants. By the way, the endorphins released by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus alleviate their pains to help them keep running. But after the crossing of the finish line, which the primitive brain perceives as the culmination of the hunting, the preservation of the runners becomes the priority, because such ‘efficient hunters’ are precious assets for the survival of the tribe. That’s why many of them start feeling the full pains afterwards to prevent them from aggravating their injuries.
When I reached an aid station near the 20 km mark, I walked a bit to assess the tendinitis. The knee joint became instantly so stiff that I could no more bend the leg, not to mention the acute pain when I tried to. I felt helpless, because running with an inflexible injured leg turned out to be an impossible challenge, even walking proved problematic. I nonetheless opted for walking the remaining distance...”
At 70, Dr. Sidy Diallo (left) danced Zumba just few hours after completing barefoot his 520th Marathon and an 11 km walk in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.
Whereas Dr. Sidy Diallo did his first marathon in 2010 wearing sneakers, sockets, an ankle brace and a knee brace (upper image), he ran barefoot his 520th marathon (lower image).
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 15th Anniversary Marathon Garmin Data
Dr. Sidy Diallo running barefoot on the 6 km beach in Playa del Inglés during The 15th Anniversary Marathon..
A billboard displaying the date 10-10 (for October 10) the Meloneras Promenade, Gran Canaria.
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 15th Anniversary 11 km Walk
The 8 de Marzo Avenue in Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria