Running 10000m under the sun is not an easy task, even for a US Army officer. Participating at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, long-distance runner Emmanuel Bor had a unique and grueling experience with worn-out shoes. Bor, who works in the US Army, is accustomed to various challenging situations. However, as he began running at the Worlds, Bor realized that things were getting extremely difficult with each step he took. 

In what was a shocking revelation, the image of his battered feet, along with the shoes has gone viral. The image not only showcased his hardships but also reflected the extreme level of challenge an athlete has to overcome while competing at the highest level. 

Emmanuel Bor impresses despite shoe fiasco at the World Cross Country Championships

In what was a disturbing incident, Emmanuel Bor’s shoes got torn and came off even before he could finish the race. The image of his bruised feet was shared by Jonathan Gault on X. He captioned the post, “Emmanuel Bor’s shoe came apart midway through the race.” According to updates from Flotrack, Bor got his shoes torn at the halfway mark. He still had a couple of laps to go. 

Surprisingly, this is where the mental toughness of Bor was on full display. Instead of giving up, the US runner decided to endure the grueling pain and persisted with his running on almost bare legs. Bor went past mud pits and hot surfaces only to get rewarded at the end. His unwavering dedication to the sport earned him a commanding position of 25th among world-class runners in Belgrade.

As a matter of fact, the conditions in Belgrade were not ideal for running at all. A reported temperature of 27 degrees made life utterly difficult for the athletes. A number of athletes, namely, Harry Colbert, Seamus Robinson, Danielle Donegan, and Fiona Everard complained about the temperatures and even termed it as a “suffer fest.” But the most honest response came from the Irish runner Keelan Kylrehill. 

Keelan Kylrehill almost had his “head explode”

Irish long-distance runner Keelan Kylrehill participated in the same 10000m discipline as Emmanuel Bor. However, once he went past the 2000m mark, Kylrehill recalled having troubles. In an interview after the run, the Irish were visibly struggling to make a conversation and looked drained out. 

Read More: “My Head Was About to Explode”: World Cross Country Championships Athlete Drops Honest Confession

Speaking about his experience, the 23-year-old said, “2K in I was hurting bad, 5K in I thought my head was about to explode.” However, just like Bor, Kylrehill too, fought through the pain and ended up clinching the 56th position at the World Cross Country Championships. 

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