American amateur runner Jay Glidewell was competing in the Berlin Marathon on 21/9, wearing his trusty Nike Vaporfly shoes, which had accompanied him for years. However, at the 10 km mark, the sole of his right shoe detached, threatening to derail his race and force him to run the remaining 32 km barefoot.
Just then, a "Berlin miracle" happened. A German spectator named Sven Hock, seeing Glidewell's predicament, offered his own shoe. Hock quickly removed his shoe and handed it to the grateful runner. Thanks to this unexpected act of kindness, Glidewell was able to continue the race, finishing in 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 33 seconds.
"He saved me a trip to the orthopedist," Glidewell humorously wrote on social media. "I’m beyond grateful to a random spectator who’s now a friend."
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Jay Glidewell poses with his broken shoe after finishing the 2025 Berlin Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Jay Glidewell) |
Jay Glidewell poses with his broken shoe after finishing the 2025 Berlin Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Jay Glidewell)
Hock initially offered both shoes, but Glidewell insisted he only needed the right one. However, fate intervened again at the 38 km mark when his left shoe also split open. Glidewell had to hobble the final stretch, his left foot in a sock and his right foot in Hock's shoe.
Hock's girlfriend, Stefanie, later shared the moment on social media: "Everything was right: the right time, the right place, and the right shoe size. Simply a magical coincidence."
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Jay Glidewell (right) poses with Sven Hock, who lent him a shoe. (Photo courtesy of Stefanie) |
Jay Glidewell (right) poses with Sven Hock, who lent him a shoe. (Photo courtesy of Stefanie)
Glidewell revealed he had been using the same Vaporfly shoes since 2019, through multiple marathons. While the Berlin Marathon marked the end of the road for his old shoes, it also signaled a new milestone in his running career.
With the unexpected help from a stranger, Glidewell completed his third World Marathon Major and is now aiming for the Tokyo Marathon in 3/2026.
The Berlin Marathon is an annual race held in Berlin, Germany. It is one of the six World Marathon Majors (WMM), alongside races in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Sydney.
Kenyan runners dominated the 2025 Berlin Marathon. Sabastian Sawe won the men's race with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 16 seconds, while Rosemary Wanjiru won the women's race in 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 5 seconds.
Hong Duy (Canadian Running Magazine)
