Simply two weeks into 2025, Benjamin Lim of Kuala Lumpur might need delivered the marathon efficiency of the yr at Sunday’s Twincity Marathon in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Operating in a pair of white flip-flops and black socks, Lim accomplished the 42.2-kilometre race in three hours and 4 minutes, ending ninth general.
To place Lim’s time into perspective, he maintained a median tempo of seven minutes per mile (4:20/km), clocking a pace of practically 14 km/h—all whereas sporting footwear higher suited to the seaside than a marathon course. Whether or not he completed blister-free stays unclear, however his accomplishment is nothing in need of outstanding.
Lim crossed the road simply 13 minutes behind race winner Afiq Saniy, who completed in 2:50:43. Whereas Lim wasn’t formally chasing any data, his time unofficially obliterates the present Guinness World Document for the quickest marathon in flip-flops (3:37:27), held by Australian runner Alistair Kealty.
His ending time was simply over 9 minutes shy of the qualifying normal of two hours and 55 minutes for the 2026 Boston Marathon within the males’s 18-34 age bracket. The qualifying time was lowered by 5 minutes from the earlier three hours for the 2026 race in September 2024.
Lim’s uncommon footwear alternative in an period dominated by carbon-plated trainers epitomizes grit. Finishing a marathon in flip-flops is one factor; operating it at a quick tempo is one other.
In a sport pushed by innovation, Lim’s accomplishment proves (generally) that every one it is advisable to run a marathon is coronary heart—and perhaps a sturdy pair of flip-flops.