Leyteño runner sets 2 Guinness records

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines - Eddie Vega, a Leyteño long distance runner who gunned for two Guinness World Records and was featured in The Freeman when he started his quest last January has finally achieved feats no man has ever done yet.

Last July 3, Vega, also known as the Barefoot Bandito in the running world, achieved his coveted Guinness record for the "most barefoot marathons in one year" by finishing 50 of these runs. Four days later he established another record for "running barefoot marathons for 10 consecutive days."

Vega who is currently in Hilongos (his hometown) to attend a reunion of the Vilbar Clan of which he belongs, told The Freeman that he intended to do 100 marathons before the deadline, which is until the end of this year.

"I will finish 100 barefoot marathons so that it will be difficult for others to break my record," he said. As of this date, he already had 59 runs, nine past the target set by the world record body.

Vega was a member of Gawad Kalinga Hero's Run Team in North Carolina, USA, and ran his first marathon in the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh (North Carolina).

"My pals dared me to run barefoot when I ran out of running shoes during the 5-day series marathon I participated. I used by running shoes only once since. I only have four pairs at that time," he said.

He accepted the challenge and this earned him the monicker Barefoot Bandito, which stuck to this day. "I noticed the attention I got when I first ran barefoot, so I decided to capitalize it into a more noble cause," which is giving shoes to indigent children around the world until now.

"The total 1000 pairs we distributed in Palompon and Hilongos towns (both in Leyte) with partner Peter Cowles from Seeds of Dignity Ministries-Mindanao, Inc., last August 18 can inspire children to study harder and keep them healthy by preventing germs and other harmful elements they might caught without protective gears," said the Barefoot Bandito.

Through his own Soles4Souls Charity group and partners, Vega has been gathering donations for 300 pairs of shoes for every marathon he runs.

"There are 300 million children in the world who need footwear. A dollar donation will provide one pair of shoes to every less-privileged child in the Philippines and other places who lacks adequate footwear for protection against harmful wounds and diseases," he said.

Fellow Filipinos now have a chance to see Vega, the Barefoot Bandito, in person as he is scheduled to run at the Bohol International Marathon this Sunday (August 24).