Just six weeks after participating in the Berlin Marathon while wearing bright yellow Crocs, Russian marathoner Iskander Yadgarov found yet another unconventional way to complete the 42.2 km distance. The 35-year-old athlete donned a pair of jeans during the Porto Marathon in Portugal on Sunday, finishing with a time of 2:28:29. This performance could potentially set the record for the fastest marathon run in denim, pending official verification.
Yadgarov shared his achievement on Instagram, stating, “Fried eggs for breakfast today,” and noted his 11th-place finish overall. A two-time champion of the Moscow Marathon, having won in 2019 and 2022, he also holds a personal best of 2:14:07 from the 2023 Valencia Marathon. Originally from Moscow, Yadgarov currently resides in Portugal, where he works as a software developer.
From Crocs to denim
During the Berlin Marathon, Yadgarov recorded a time of 2:30:03 while wearing his yellow Crocs. He later mentioned that running in those plastic shoes was quite painful and advised against it. Nevertheless, this did not deter him from pursuing another unusual marathon attempt.
In an October discussion with Russian sports outlet Sports.ru, Yadgarov expressed his intentions for his next challenge. He remarked, “I saw an American running fast in jeans. I should take that record from him,” adding that he believed running in denim would be easier than in Crocs, claiming, “all the crazy running records should belong to me.” Despite his enthusiasm for these bizarre challenges, he also admitted, “I love half-marathons, but I hate marathons.”
Yadgarov’s finishing time of 2:28:29 translates to an impressive average pace of approximately 3:31 per kilometer, a speed that many would find difficult to maintain even in standard running gear.
A surprisingly competitive record
Australian runner Matt Fox currently holds the previous record for the fastest marathon completed in jeans, having finished in 2:33:38 at the Sydney Marathon in August. He surpassed American athlete Truett Hanes, who clocked in at 2:34:45 during the 2025 Eugene Marathon. Hanes has participated in various races in jeans, including the Boston Marathon. Yadgarov’s recent time in Porto is five minutes and nine seconds quicker than Fox’s previous record.