Stiletto Sprinting (Follow-Up) - High-Heel Races Reach Mexico

We’ve covered stiletto springing before, but it seems that a wave of high-heel races is taking over the world.

After Amsterdam, Berlin, Stockholm, Saint-Petersburg, and Moscow, it was Mexico City’s turn on Oct. 28 2007 to organize such an event.

The commercial sponsor behind the event was posh department store El Palacio de Hierro.

The race drew about 500 women strapped on stilettos for the city’s first 100-meter High Heel Race.

The women, decked out in running gear and heels of at least 7 centimeters (2.75 inches), galloped through a downtown street. Several collapsed to the ground, casualties of the city’s broken asphalt.

The eventual winner was an ex-national champion 1,500-meter runner, who said she practiced for the event for a week. Her time was under 15 seconds.

Special prizes also went to “The Most Elegant Runner”, “The Best Smile”, and “The Best Coiffed”. Overal, prizes were worth about $1,800.

The event was not without its detractors: A group calling itself “Totally Indignant” (a play on the “Totally Palacio” slogan of the sponsor Palacio del Hierro, a department store) blasted race organizers for putting the women’s health at risk and making a caricature out of women.

If you’re looking for a video, check out Trend Hunter’s post from July:

Stiletto Sprinting - Professional High Heel Racing (VIDEO)

You need strong ankles and a smart fashion sense in this sometimes violent and ruthless sport. This week’s 100 meter event was contested in Moscow’s Hermitage garden with talented young athletes competing for a shopping voucher worth 100,000 rubles ($5,119). Similar races have been held in St. Pet… [More]