In a feat that most thought impossible --and some blasted as reckless -- a 1-year-old girl has become the youngest ever to complete a marathon.

The child, Jayden Lee Smith, of Charleston, South Carolina, smashed the record at last weekend's Outer Banks Marathon, where she lined up near the back of the pack and clocked a time of 9 hours 24 minutes, which included three diaper changes and a 90-minute nap around the 20-mile mark. The record is awaiting official certification from Guinness World Records, but it is widely expected to be granted.

"We're just amazed," her father, Jason Smith, told the Charleston Post and Courier. "She only learned to walk a few months ago."

Adding another twist to her accomplishment, Jayden ran the whole race barefoot.

"Jayden has always been a minimalist," Jayden's mother, Samantha, said, laughing. "I guess you could say she truly was 'born to run.'"

Jayden's record-setting effort is just the latest in a string of impressive runs by youngsters. Also last weekend, 5-year-old Anthony Russo ran the Trenton (New Jersey) Half Marathon in 2:22. Last month, 6-year-old Keelan Glass ran a 2:47 half-marathon in Texas. And a 14-year-old girl just became the youngest ever to complete a marathon on all seven continents. Still, experts say that the 1-year-old's marathon accomplishment is in a class by itself and unlikely to be topped anytime soon.

"Certainly, Jayden is an exceptional athlete with tremendous potential," said Richard Cunningham, M.D., chief of pediatrics at Milwaukee General Hospital. "I see no reason why she can't be running ultras by her second or third birthday."

Not everyone is so laudatory.

"I'm all for encouraging children to be active," said Morris Szyslak, Ph.D., director of the Health Science Center at Springfield State University. "But 1 year old is just too young for something that strenuous. She has her whole life to run marathons. Why not start her off with a 10K? Or a half-marathon?"

The reaction online, especially on social media, has been fierce. Typical comments include, "This little girls [sic] parents should be ashamed of themselves. 1 is just to [sic] young for a marathon race!!!" and "wow i guess her mom and dad dont [sic] car [sic] about anything but there [sic] on [sic] sic [sic] needs. sad." and "RU kidding me???"

For their part, the Smiths are shrugging off such criticism.

"We discussed this ahead of time with our family doctor," says Jason Smith. "She told us it was fine, as long as we didn't push Jayden. Which we would never do, because strollers aren't allowed in this race."

Besides, says Samantha Smith, Jayden's age has been misrepresented in news reports: "She's actually 14 months. And very mature for her age."

The Smiths aren't sure whether Jayden will run another marathon, and if so, when. Meantime, they say, the precocious toddler is already babbling about other plans.

"She wants to launch her own line of all-natural energy bars," said Jason.

"Gluten-free," added Samantha.

Mark Remy Mark Remy has been with Runner’s World since January 2007—for the first 5 ½ years as executive editor of RunnersWorld.com, and currently as a writer at large.

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