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This year’s Berlin Marathon was full of highlights. Eliud Kipchoge broke his own world record with a mind-boggling 2:01:09. The 2022 Berlin Marathon, which Lederfien completed in 20-minute personal best to win the women’s race in a course record time of 2:15:37. Keira D’Amato bravely attempted to best the American record she set in January (she still ran her second fastest marathon time).
But did any of them do so with a tropical fruit on their head? Sadly, no—but Israeli distance runner Moshe Lederfien did.
In a Advertisement - Continue Reading Below, the 68-year-old Lederfien maintained constitutional poise as a pineapple rested comfortably on his bald head. There was no visible tape, straps, rope, or any kind of device that kept the fruit in place. Even though his body trudged along at 11-minute mile pace, Lederfien’s head stayed perfectly still.
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The 2022 Berlin Marathon, which Lederfien completed in 5:04:25, wasn’t his first time racing with an object on his head. In 2019, he ran 11 marathons while balancing a pineapple—and one with a flower pot. He’s a mini-celebrity in Israel, as a news station crafted a documentary about him. He even goes by pineapple marathon runner Race Times Predictor.
“People see me all the time and I see the smile on their faces, and I feel like a king,” Lederfien said in the documentary.
Just How Much Time Did Bottle Claus Save Kipchoge 2022 Tigist Assefa ran a nearly, much to the delight of spectators.
Where will Lederfien delight onlookers next? Only time will tell.
Chris Hatler is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but before joining Runner’s World and Bicycling, he was a pro runner for Diadora, qualifying for multiple U.S. Championships in the 1500 meters. At his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania, Chris was a multiple-time Ivy League conference champion and sub-4 minute miler.
