Joe Piggin

Joe Piggin Finishes Second in The Christchurch Marathon in a Pair of Banditos

Any marathon is a brutal affair. I'm not going to dress it up as "the way to experience another life" or "the ultimate way to find your soul". On the contrary, if I was asked to write a slogan for a marathon, it would be something to the effect of "Marathons hurt."

My first attempt at a marathon was nearly ten years ago, and I discovered a world of pain at around the 30k mark. Delirious, with no energy and with cramping setting in, I started being overtaken by walkers who were in the associated half marathon. Calamity! I managed to make it to the finish line though, still beating both Oprah's and Puff Daddy's debut marathon times.

Fast forward to the present day and I'm lining up at Christchurch 2006, a whole lot fitter and with lightning bolts strapped to my feet. Since the flat Christchurch course would be tough on the legs, I needed footwear that would be up to the challenge. Enter the Loco Running Banditos, which would prove to be a very smooth ride indeed throughout the entire race. And what a smooth ride they were, propelling me to do everything but win, finishing second in 2:28. From here there's only one thing left to do, come first!

The key features that proved pretty darn impressive and that ensured I'll be lining up in the same shoes next year included their lightness, their absence of noise (that is, the Banditos interacted with the ground very smoothly), and their solid structural integrity. Some lightweight racers seem to fall to bits after a few miles into a race, but the Banditos kept their strength and spring fantastically.

So I'll be back at Christchurch nest year, and if everything goes according to plan, the first thing across the finish line will be the Locos!!!

Joe Piggin