The Shabby Sneakers Barefoot Marathon, Gran Canaria
Marathon # 558
Barefoot Marathon # 207
Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 118
Date: March 11, 2026
My Time: 6:08:19
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
The Third Time's the Charm
It might be well the case that someone wrongly thought that providing me an opportunity to pick up his or her worn-out sneakers left on a trash bin during my 207th barefoot marathon was ultimate generosity for an indigent barefoot guy, although I was wearing immaculate marathon gears from three continents to ensure efficient protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays in southern Gran Canaria: a white t-shirt of the Barcelona Marathon on my head, a long-sleeved t-short of the New York Marathon and a white cap of the Australian Outback Marathon.
Or it could simply be another iteration of a strange coincidence that had already occurred twice—during my 168th and 170th barefoot marathons: a pair of worn-out sneakers popping up somewhere on the course as I was running back and forth barefoot.
But either way, leaving worn-out sneakers on a wonderful waterfront promenade in southern Gran Canaria, hoping that an expat or tourist will pick them up, is the stupidest, most desperate and pathetic way to try to play the rich man to relieve one’s deep depression.
Therefore, the first two times, I simply smiled, took photos, titled my runs “Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 44” and “Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 46,” then moved on. But this time, I also took a selfie with the worn-out sneakers that the delusional “benefactor” left on the trash can, and decided to share the story and publish the photos taken during these three strange “coincidences.” Third time’s the charm!
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
Barefoot Marathon # 207
Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 118
Date: March 11, 2026
My Time: 6:08:19
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
The Third Time's the Charm
It might be well the case that someone wrongly thought that providing me an opportunity to pick up his or her worn-out sneakers left on a trash bin during my 207th barefoot marathon was ultimate generosity for an indigent barefoot guy, although I was wearing immaculate marathon gears from three continents to ensure efficient protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays in southern Gran Canaria: a white t-shirt of the Barcelona Marathon on my head, a long-sleeved t-short of the New York Marathon and a white cap of the Australian Outback Marathon.
Or it could simply be another iteration of a strange coincidence that had already occurred twice—during my 168th and 170th barefoot marathons: a pair of worn-out sneakers popping up somewhere on the course as I was running back and forth barefoot.
But either way, leaving worn-out sneakers on a wonderful waterfront promenade in southern Gran Canaria, hoping that an expat or tourist will pick them up, is the stupidest, most desperate and pathetic way to try to play the rich man to relieve one’s deep depression.
Therefore, the first two times, I simply smiled, took photos, titled my runs “Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 44” and “Maspalomas Dunes Marathon # 46,” then moved on. But this time, I also took a selfie with the worn-out sneakers that the delusional “benefactor” left on the trash can, and decided to share the story and publish the photos taken during these three strange “coincidences.” Third time’s the charm!
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
Selfie of Dr. Sidy Diallo with the worn-out sneakers that someone left for whatever reason on the course of his 207th barefoot marathon.
Dr. Sidy Diallo did the Shabby Sneakers Barefoot Marathon wearing a white t-shirt of the Barcelona Marathon on his head, a long-sleeved t-short of the New York Marathon and a white cap of the Australian Outback Marathon.
The shabby sneakers that popped up on the courses of Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 168th and 170th barefoot marathons.
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s Shabby Sneakers Barefoot Marathon Garmin data