Download our Free 8-Week Plan here →

2:36 in Jeans: Truett Hanes Turns a Marathon Into a Statement

Written by 
Matteo Sargenti

Published on February 19, 2026

Truett Hanes didn’t just run the Austin Marathon fast he ran 2:36:56 in blue jeans, turning a head-turning spectacle into a purpose-driven project that’s already raised $40,000 and points toward an even bigger goal: Olympic Trials qualifying pace.

2:36 in Jeans: Truett Hanes Turns a Marathon Into a Statement

​At the Austin Marathon on Sunday, one runner stood out long before the finish line clock came into view. Shirtless. Ball cap. American flag bandana.

Wired earbuds tucked in. Blue jeans. And moving at six-minute pace.

​That runner was Truett Hanes, and the outfit was not a gimmick. It is part of the project.

Truett Hanes on the right (Credit: Scott Flathouse)

​Hanes covered the hilly Austin course in 2:36:56, averaging exactly 6:00 per mile.

​He finished 12th overall and fourth in the non-elite field, in denim. The result builds on a series of high-profile performances: 2:42:50 in Austin last year, 2:38:29 at Boston, and 2:34:45 in Eugene, all in jeans.

​Beyond the marathon, he has set a Guinness World Record with 10,001 pull-ups in 24 hours and completed the 2025 Leadville 100 Miler in under 24 hours, again wearing his signature pants.

Truett Hanes (Credit: Scott Flathouse)

​Hanes is sponsored by The Perfect Jean, which directs a portion of sales to the Miracle Foundation, supporting vulnerable children. The collaboration has raised $40,000 so far.

​The spectacle, however, sits alongside a measurable target. Hanes’ marathon personal best is 2:29:49. To qualify for the 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials, which he is aiming for, he will need to run 2:16:00.

Can you imagine him running at the Olympics in blue jeans?

Join The Conversation

You Might Also Like

blind-runner-just-finished-the-nyc-half-marathon

A Blind Runner Just Finished the NYC Half Marathon Using AI Glasses. It Is About to Change Guided Running Entirely.

Thomas Panek, CEO of Lighthouse Guild, ran the 2026 NYC Half Marathon in AI-powered Meta glasses that let his coach Scott Jurek guide him in real time from Colorado.

puma-put-40-buddhist-monks-in-running-shoes

Puma Put 40 Buddhist Monks in Running Shoes at a 600-Year-Old Monastery. Here Is Why.

Puma India's "Meditation in Motion" campaign puts 40 Buddhist monks in NITRO Deviate PURE running shoes at Thiksey Monastery ahead of the Ladakh Marathon 2026.

stockport-teacher-ran-a-marathon-in-a-traditional-saree

A Stockport Teacher Ran a Marathon in a Traditional Saree. She Broke the World Record by 11 Minutes.

46-year-old special needs teacher Madhusmita Jena ran the 2026 Manchester Marathon in a Sambalpuri saree in 3:45:39, smashing the Guinness World Record by nearly 12 minutes.

15-minutes-of-running-is-all-your-brain-needs

A King's College London Researcher Found 15 Minutes of Running Is All Your Brain Needs

A researcher who tracked 37,000 people found that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds of movement lifts mood. The science of why running works on the brain.

adidas-built-a-carbon-plate-you-can-adjust-mid-run

Adidas Built a Carbon Plate You Can Adjust Mid-Run. The Super Shoe Rules Just Changed.

Adidas has revealed the Adizero Gearshift, a running shoe with a carbon plate that adjusts on the fly. Here is what it means for everyday runners.

cody-taylor-vanished-into-vermont-s-long-trail

Cody Taylor Vanished Into Vermont's Long Trail for 17 Days. Alone. With 51 Pounds on His Back.

Cody Taylor set the unsupported out-and-back FKT on Vermont's Long Trail: 550 miles, 17 days, no resupplies, no outside help. Here is what really happened out there.