A retired professional ballroom dancer in Tennessee set a world record by running an entire marathon in high heels.
Irene Sewell shared photos of herself following the Guinness World Record-breaking performance as she managed to complete the 26.2-mile race in the high-heeled shoes.
“Well world, I DID IT. I’m still in shock, but it really happened,” she wrote this week. “I ran a marathon today in high heels and set a Guinness World Record with two minutes to spare!”
Sewell told WSMV she was inspired by the story of a British woman’s quest to become the world’s fastest marathon runner in heels.
“She ultimately didn’t get the record. So, I was just reading about her and I thought man, with my dancing background and now running background,” she said.
Sewell brought six pairs of the 3-inch stilettos ranging from size seven and a half to nine along with blister band-aids, in-soles and calf sleeves.
To top the previous record Sewell was required to complete the race in under seven and a half hours equaling a 17-minute mile pace.
“That’s kind of the moment that I run for,” Sewell said.
Sewell’s experience as a ballroom dancer made her comfortable moving in high heels, but her podiatrist advised against training in the dress shoes.
She instead opted for “normal training for a marathon, and then throw in the high heels every now and then.”