Tongan runs 150km ultra-marathon wearing homemade jandals [1]
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - 16:30. Updated on Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 12:58.
A 48 year-old Tongan-New Zealander from Manukau City, Andrew Fifita-Lamb, has captured media attention in New Zealand running a 150 kilometre Ultra-Marathon in homemade “jandals” for over 31 hours.
Andrew was the last of 12 solo competitiors to complete Taranaki's ‘Round the Mountain Relay’ Ultra-Marathon last week. He completed the race in 31 hours 30 minutes and 31 second, starting from 5pm on Friday November 8 and crossing the finish line in the early hours of Sunday morning November 10. As he ran over the finish line, Andrew showed his true colours, waving a small Tongan flag.
He told New Zealand’s Television 3 News that he decided to enter the race after discovering the event on the internet “It was just happen that I was looking on the internet and then I saw the ultra-marathon and said oh yeah I’ll have a go.”
Andrew’s determination and odd choice of running in homemade jandals has won him public admiration. He told media that he preferred homemade jandals because standard running shoes were uncomfortable for his legs. His jandals or thongs, were made from parts of gumboots and old stockings from his wife and daughters.
Andrew’s commitment to running began last year when he joined a fitness program to lose weight and successfully reduced his weight from 111kg to 78kg.
He told Fairfax NZ news "I'm hoping that what I've done with this race will inspire a lot of people to even just try to be more active”.
"If you put the time and effort into your dreams there is no reason you can't achieve it.”
Apart from running a marathon in homemade jandals made from gumboots and stockings, Andrew may be the first Tongan ever to have run a 150 kilometre race.