Freefall: The Dog with Custom Running Shoes
1979_4475: Newspaper clipping of Major Kiwi and Freefall running the length of NZ in 1978. National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.
Have you heard about Freefall, the dog that ran the length of NZ in custom “Adidas” running shoes?
Freefall, a black Labrador, and Major Albert (Alby) Kiwi, NZSAS and veteran of Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam, ran the length of NZ together to promote and raise money for the building of our Museum. Between 24 February and 27 March 1978, Major Kiwi and Freefall ran 2220km from Bluff to Cape Reinga, gaining significant media attention and raising $33,000.
To protect his paws during the run, a set of special canine running shoes were made for Freefall. They were made from leather, had cotton laces and rubber soles. There are small holes around the sides of each shoe, presumably to allow airflow to the Freefall’s paws, and a DIY Adidas logo on each shoe drawn on the top in red ink. A keen observer will also notice that there are dried bloodstains on the side of the rear shoes. These are apparently the result of Freefall catching his tail in the door of a car whilst in Wellsford, north of Auckland.
Tragically, Major Alby Kiwi died during a parachuting accident in Australia in 1982 aged only 42. However, his legacy to the National Army Museum along with his trusty canine companion will always be remembered. ‘Impossible is Nothing’? Spot-on for Major Kiwi and Freefall!
1979.4475: Canine running boots belonging to Freefall. National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.
