Gary Tuttle
Santa Paula, CA
DOB: 10-12-47
-----------------------
from Gary Tuttle: My best estimate puts me at 160,000 miles at this time in my 61 year old life. I have lost 5:30 minutes off my PR 5k. Can only run 18:50 now. My history includes, 2-time NCAA Steeplechase Small College Champion. 3-time member of World Cross Country Team. 7th place in World Cross Country. Olympic 10,000 trials 76-80-84. Olympic Trials marathon 72,76. Former holder of 3 American Track Records 15K, 10 mile and one hour (12 miles 811 yards). Winner Bay to Breakers, 2nd place Boston Marathon. 2 time USA Marathon Champ. Recently 3rd place at Carlsbad 5k Masters Championships. Currently running about 35 miles week. I sold my running store 2 years ago to Josh Spiker, who recently won the Carlsbad Marathon. I love retirement, and coaching high school girls basketball. Am also County Vice Char of Democratic Party, and help manage 100 acres of lemons.
Bill "Mad Dog" Scobey has about 150,000 lifetime miles
Bill "Mad Dog" Scobey
Nipomo, CA
DOB: 3-13-1945
--------------------------
from Bill Scobey: I ran for two years in high school with PR's of 4:21 and 1:58 for mile and half-mile. Los Angeles City HS Cross Country Champion - 1962. NO State meet in Cross Country in those days. Junior College All American 1965 mile & 2-mile - Pierce Community College, Woodland Hills, CA. Two years on US Army Track Team. Two years at Humboldt State College - 4 X All American - 1969 - '70 - Track & Cross Country. Ran as part of a World Record 10 man/24 hour Relay - Spokane, WA - 1971. Team also included Gerry Lindgren. Debut marathon 2:23:23 - Dec. 1970. One year later and three more marathons later, ran 2:15:21. Set American Record for 50k in 1973 - 2:52:52. Ran over 100 miles a week for more than 20 years. I am still running about 40-50 miles per week. Guess it's in my blood...
Nipomo, CA
DOB: 3-13-1945
--------------------------
from Bill Scobey: I ran for two years in high school with PR's of 4:21 and 1:58 for mile and half-mile. Los Angeles City HS Cross Country Champion - 1962. NO State meet in Cross Country in those days. Junior College All American 1965 mile & 2-mile - Pierce Community College, Woodland Hills, CA. Two years on US Army Track Team. Two years at Humboldt State College - 4 X All American - 1969 - '70 - Track & Cross Country. Ran as part of a World Record 10 man/24 hour Relay - Spokane, WA - 1971. Team also included Gerry Lindgren. Debut marathon 2:23:23 - Dec. 1970. One year later and three more marathons later, ran 2:15:21. Set American Record for 50k in 1973 - 2:52:52. Ran over 100 miles a week for more than 20 years. I am still running about 40-50 miles per week. Guess it's in my blood...
Danny Paul is "creeping up on" 130,000 lifetime miles
Danny Paul
Yarmouth ME
DOB: 11-20-53
---------------------------------
from Danny Paul: I grew up in nearby Portland, coach in Falmouth and run daily with our HS runners. It helps keep me young and keep going. I have run 5K on the track in 14:38, a half marathon in 1:07:52 and the Ottawa Marathon in 2:24:58. At school I teach an English elective course called "Reading, Writing, and Running." The main texts are The Runner's Literary Companion and Once A Runner. I've had some great guests come to the class, including Joan Benoit Samuelson, three times.
Yarmouth ME
DOB: 11-20-53
---------------------------------
from Danny Paul: I grew up in nearby Portland, coach in Falmouth and run daily with our HS runners. It helps keep me young and keep going. I have run 5K on the track in 14:38, a half marathon in 1:07:52 and the Ottawa Marathon in 2:24:58. At school I teach an English elective course called "Reading, Writing, and Running." The main texts are The Runner's Literary Companion and Once A Runner. I've had some great guests come to the class, including Joan Benoit Samuelson, three times.
Joel Pasternack has run 110,000 lifetime miles
Joel Pasternack
Clifton, NJ
DOB: 8-07-1950
-----------------------------------
from Joel Pasternack: I have been running for 43 years, from 1969 to 1985 with Tom Fleming. I just recently went over the 110,000 mile mark. I placed 53rd in the 1972 Boston Marathon, and ran my best, 2:25:03, at Boston in 1974 for 28th place. I also placed 25th in the first five-boro NYC Marathon in 1976. I currently run about 40 miles at week at 8:40 to 9:20 pace. I have a collection of 600 VHS and DVDs about running and races. I met Geoff Smith at a running camp recently, and learned that someone had borrowed his tape of the New York City race he lost to Rod Dixon, and never returned it. So I was able to make Geoff a copy of that tape.
Clifton, NJ
DOB: 8-07-1950
-----------------------------------
from Joel Pasternack: I have been running for 43 years, from 1969 to 1985 with Tom Fleming. I just recently went over the 110,000 mile mark. I placed 53rd in the 1972 Boston Marathon, and ran my best, 2:25:03, at Boston in 1974 for 28th place. I also placed 25th in the first five-boro NYC Marathon in 1976. I currently run about 40 miles at week at 8:40 to 9:20 pace. I have a collection of 600 VHS and DVDs about running and races. I met Geoff Smith at a running camp recently, and learned that someone had borrowed his tape of the New York City race he lost to Rod Dixon, and never returned it. So I was able to make Geoff a copy of that tape.
Dr. Herbert L. Fred has 239,585 lifetime miles (Mar. 1, 2010)
Dr. Herbert L. Fred
Houston, TX
DOB: 1929
-----------------------------------
Amby writes: I was very skeptical of this man and this total before today, but then I had a long phone conversation with Dr. Fred, and am now 99.9 percent sure he is legit. At 79 years, 7 months, he's still teaching medicine full-time and running 12 miles a day (all of it on a treadmill at 12:00 pace, "quite comfortable," he says.) Dr. Fred has a marathon PR of 3:07 way back when, and a best 100 mile performance of 17 hours. I don't have time for more details now, but will fill them in later. I'm prepared to call him the world-record holder for lifetime miles in the U.S., perhaps worldwide.
You can read more about him here. He updates his lifetime total every month at the very bottom of his "Biography" page.
Houston, TX
DOB: 1929
-----------------------------------
Amby writes: I was very skeptical of this man and this total before today, but then I had a long phone conversation with Dr. Fred, and am now 99.9 percent sure he is legit. At 79 years, 7 months, he's still teaching medicine full-time and running 12 miles a day (all of it on a treadmill at 12:00 pace, "quite comfortable," he says.) Dr. Fred has a marathon PR of 3:07 way back when, and a best 100 mile performance of 17 hours. I don't have time for more details now, but will fill them in later. I'm prepared to call him the world-record holder for lifetime miles in the U.S., perhaps worldwide.
You can read more about him here. He updates his lifetime total every month at the very bottom of his "Biography" page.
Don Slusser has 178,000 lifetime miles
Donald Slusser
Monroeville, PA
DOB: 10-31-1951
----------------------------------
from Don Slusser: I've got 178,439 lifetime miles as of 12-31-08. My starting date in high school was 1-10-67. I just used a calendar then. In college I started a more detailed log with information about distance run, effort or pace, who I ran with, course, weather, weight and any cross-training. I hit the 100,000 mile mark during the 1988 Pittsburgh Marathon. I had to juggle miles for 6 months so I wouldn't go over the total beforehand (May 3, 1988). I was 36 years, 6 months at the time. My marathon PR is 2:17:43 at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
My wife Tammy guesses she's at or near 80,000 miles. She started keeping records in 1983. She's more proud of her many fast marathons--7 under 2:40, and about 60 (estimate) under 3:00. She ran in three Marathon Trials--1992, 1996, and 2000--and has a PR of 2:37:14 that won the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1994.
Monroeville, PA
DOB: 10-31-1951
----------------------------------
from Don Slusser: I've got 178,439 lifetime miles as of 12-31-08. My starting date in high school was 1-10-67. I just used a calendar then. In college I started a more detailed log with information about distance run, effort or pace, who I ran with, course, weather, weight and any cross-training. I hit the 100,000 mile mark during the 1988 Pittsburgh Marathon. I had to juggle miles for 6 months so I wouldn't go over the total beforehand (May 3, 1988). I was 36 years, 6 months at the time. My marathon PR is 2:17:43 at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
My wife Tammy guesses she's at or near 80,000 miles. She started keeping records in 1983. She's more proud of her many fast marathons--7 under 2:40, and about 60 (estimate) under 3:00. She ran in three Marathon Trials--1992, 1996, and 2000--and has a PR of 2:37:14 that won the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1994.
Bob Congdon has 120,440 lifetime miles
Bob Congdon
Ithaca, NY
DOB: 7-17-45
------------------------------------------
from Mary Jo Congdon: My husband Bob (Robert) Congdon has run 33 Bostons and is 63 yrs young. I told him about this email and asked him to calculate his mileage. I help him with the computer since he has been so busy running he has not taken the time to learn how to use it. It turns out he hit 100,000 miles in around June 2000. His current total mileage is around 120,440. Runners World did a little article about Bob the year he did his 30th consecutive Boston. He broke his streak for a few years after number 30, not due to injury but to travel with family in April. from
Ithaca, NY
DOB: 7-17-45
------------------------------------------
from Mary Jo Congdon: My husband Bob (Robert) Congdon has run 33 Bostons and is 63 yrs young. I told him about this email and asked him to calculate his mileage. I help him with the computer since he has been so busy running he has not taken the time to learn how to use it. It turns out he hit 100,000 miles in around June 2000. His current total mileage is around 120,440. Runners World did a little article about Bob the year he did his 30th consecutive Boston. He broke his streak for a few years after number 30, not due to injury but to travel with family in April. from
Gary Cohen has 101,000 lifetime miles
Gary Cohen
Apopka, FL
DOB: 10-1-57
---------------------------------------
I just surpassed 101,000 miles last month. I have raced 11 times at Boston with a best of 2:30:36, a bit off my PR of 2:22:34. I'm the defending Grandmasters champ at the Disney Marathon (2:59:53) where I will race this Sunday.
Disney update: I made it through the Disney Marathon pretty well - at age 51 I managed a 3:05:05 with limited training lately. My ten weeks before a one week taper averaged only 35 miles, I did one 20-mile long run and nothing fast except stride outs.
Apopka, FL
DOB: 10-1-57
---------------------------------------
I just surpassed 101,000 miles last month. I have raced 11 times at Boston with a best of 2:30:36, a bit off my PR of 2:22:34. I'm the defending Grandmasters champ at the Disney Marathon (2:59:53) where I will race this Sunday.
Disney update: I made it through the Disney Marathon pretty well - at age 51 I managed a 3:05:05 with limited training lately. My ten weeks before a one week taper averaged only 35 miles, I did one 20-mile long run and nothing fast except stride outs.
Scott Clark has 117,813 miles, may be youngest 100K runner
Scott Clark
Gilmanton, NH
DOB: 2-17-66
----------------------------------------
As of Monday, 5 of Jan 09, I have 117,813 miles. Have three
great kids (16,14, and 8), teach HS chem/bio, coach cross and track, we
farm (our own hay, food, 70 +/- sheep). Very busy at all times, but
that's how we like it :) Have run 2:21:30, 1:07:00, and on down the line from
there. Have really slowed up these past two years (darn it!).
Gilmanton, NH
DOB: 2-17-66
----------------------------------------
As of Monday, 5 of Jan 09, I have 117,813 miles. Have three
great kids (16,14, and 8), teach HS chem/bio, coach cross and track, we
farm (our own hay, food, 70 +/- sheep). Very busy at all times, but
that's how we like it :) Have run 2:21:30, 1:07:00, and on down the line from
there. Have really slowed up these past two years (darn it!).
Who's the total mileage "world record" holder--Gordon Pirie?
If we're going to keep track of lifetime miles, then we need to know who the world record holder is. Both to inspire us all, and to set an standard for those who want to go for the gold. I'm not a stat nut, an Excel genius, or even very picky about precise mileage totals. I'm willing to accept anyone and any claims that seem reasonable.
But I don't think Gordon Pirie's supposed world record for total lifetime miles is reasonable. On various web pages, I've read that he accumulated anywhere from 215,000 to 241,000 total lifetime miles. I've also read that the Guinness Book of World Record people accepted his 215,000 as a world record.
However, it seems highly unlikely to me. Pirie, of Great Britain, died of cancer at age 60. And he lived and excelled--he won a silver medal at 5000 meters in the 1956 Olympic Games, and set 5 world records during his lifetime--in an era where interval training held sway over longer-distance training. By contrast, fellow Britisher Ron Hill has been a prodigious marathoner and distance runner for most of his 70 years, yet says his lifetime mileage total is 151,000.
How could Pirie have logged 60,000+ more miles than Hill?
Until we get more proof, I'm going to take the stand that he didn't. That means the current world record holder might be Fred Herbert, who's listed at 228,300 total lifetime miles at this page of the web site of the U.S. Running Streak Association. I don't know Herbert, but I think I'll try to track him down next.
With regard to Pirie, here are some comments by a British friend, athletics historian, great runner and book author John Bryant. Bryant has written outstanding books about Roger Bannister's first sub-4:00, the history of the London Marathon, and the story of the 1908 Olympic Marathon--the first race over 26 miles, 385 yards.
---------------------------------------
That figure for Pirie seems like rubbish to me. If you study his
training while at his peak in Running Wild you can see that it doesn't
add up to anything like that. A lot of his training was interval
work, and even if you add up all the warming up etc it doesn't amount
to mega-mileage. There were also some rest days and days spent in
travel etc. Pirie sometimes trained twice a day, but never (rarely)
three times a day as per Dave Bedford.
Take his run up to a world record in 1956....
Aug 25 16 x 330yds. Average 46 secs
Aug 26 No running - had his car stolen
Aug 27 25 min run in heavy rain
pm 25 x 220, 27.5, interval 220 jog
Aug 28 am 4 x 880 yds 2m 06 secs, interval jogs 440 yds
pm3,000m in 8:40
Aug 29 40 mins fast and slow
Aug 31 rest
Sep 1 Rest
Sep 2 40 minute run, travelled to Sweden
Sep 3 am 40 min run
pm 40 min run
Sep 4 3,000m race in 7:52.8 (world record)
OK....this is easing for a race, but if you look at his training a
month before it is mainly interval work - very hard, but not that
mileage hungry. He also did regular weight training.
If I had to guess, I would put his life-time mileage at closer to
140,000 rather than 240,000. He was not a marathon runner unlike Ron
Hill.
----------------------------- Another John Bryant email, re Gordon Pirie
I got to see Gordon late in his life (he died in 1991) while he was
working as a lumberjack in the New Forest. I saw him occasionally
with Chris Brasher. Pirie ran in the London Marathon in (from memory)
the late 1980s. He planned to run with me, but dropped out at around
22 miles. I used to joke with him that he could keep running for ever
as long as he found things to think about. But he ran out of thoughts
around 22.
One of the topics of conversation between me and Chris Brasher in the
pubs on Wimbledon Common was how many miles athletes had covered in
their life times. I would always champion Arthur Newton, while
Brasher would go for Pirie and Ron Hill, and of course it was all
open-ended because Pirie and Hill hadn't finished yet. Hill keeps a
remarkable record of every mile he's done. He told me that in
December 2004 he had clocked up over 145,000 miles so far. He's still
running 20 to 30 miles a week so he'll need some catching.
I am sure that Gordon Pirie must have clocked up well over 100,000
miles. He was already running when he was inspired by Emil Zatopek in
the1948 London Olympics. That legacy inspired him not just to run
every day, but to put in big mileages. He kept that up through out
his competitive career, when all received wisdom was that he did too
much mileage, and set a pattern that was carried through much of his
life. So 40 years after he had been inspired by Zatopek, he was still
scoffing at the amount of mileage I was covering (around 70 mpw at the
time).
For my part, I suspect that I have passed the 100,000 mark some while
ago. I started racing in 1958, at age 14, and this year at age 64 I
have run four marathons. My training diaries have been sporadic, but
when I've keep them some of the totals have shocked me with totals of
up to 100 in 60s, 70s and early 80s. I was on a steak of 12 years
(which unlike Ron Hill meant that I had to run at least 3 miles every
day, and occasionally 10 times that). An accident in late 1980s
slowed me down a lot, but I struggled back up to 70. At 64 I'm down
to 25-30, though it goes up a bit before marathons and I still run my
son's age in miles every birthday (he's now 34!) But who's counting?
There aren't any medals for wearing out shoes. But I haven't quite
hit the mileage I existed on 50 years ago at the age of 14....but
there's plenty of time left yet.
But I don't think Gordon Pirie's supposed world record for total lifetime miles is reasonable. On various web pages, I've read that he accumulated anywhere from 215,000 to 241,000 total lifetime miles. I've also read that the Guinness Book of World Record people accepted his 215,000 as a world record.
However, it seems highly unlikely to me. Pirie, of Great Britain, died of cancer at age 60. And he lived and excelled--he won a silver medal at 5000 meters in the 1956 Olympic Games, and set 5 world records during his lifetime--in an era where interval training held sway over longer-distance training. By contrast, fellow Britisher Ron Hill has been a prodigious marathoner and distance runner for most of his 70 years, yet says his lifetime mileage total is 151,000.
How could Pirie have logged 60,000+ more miles than Hill?
Until we get more proof, I'm going to take the stand that he didn't. That means the current world record holder might be Fred Herbert, who's listed at 228,300 total lifetime miles at this page of the web site of the U.S. Running Streak Association. I don't know Herbert, but I think I'll try to track him down next.
With regard to Pirie, here are some comments by a British friend, athletics historian, great runner and book author John Bryant. Bryant has written outstanding books about Roger Bannister's first sub-4:00, the history of the London Marathon, and the story of the 1908 Olympic Marathon--the first race over 26 miles, 385 yards.
---------------------------------------
That figure for Pirie seems like rubbish to me. If you study his
training while at his peak in Running Wild you can see that it doesn't
add up to anything like that. A lot of his training was interval
work, and even if you add up all the warming up etc it doesn't amount
to mega-mileage. There were also some rest days and days spent in
travel etc. Pirie sometimes trained twice a day, but never (rarely)
three times a day as per Dave Bedford.
Take his run up to a world record in 1956....
Aug 25 16 x 330yds. Average 46 secs
Aug 26 No running - had his car stolen
Aug 27 25 min run in heavy rain
pm 25 x 220, 27.5, interval 220 jog
Aug 28 am 4 x 880 yds 2m 06 secs, interval jogs 440 yds
pm3,000m in 8:40
Aug 29 40 mins fast and slow
Aug 31 rest
Sep 1 Rest
Sep 2 40 minute run, travelled to Sweden
Sep 3 am 40 min run
pm 40 min run
Sep 4 3,000m race in 7:52.8 (world record)
OK....this is easing for a race, but if you look at his training a
month before it is mainly interval work - very hard, but not that
mileage hungry. He also did regular weight training.
If I had to guess, I would put his life-time mileage at closer to
140,000 rather than 240,000. He was not a marathon runner unlike Ron
Hill.
----------------------------- Another John Bryant email, re Gordon Pirie
I got to see Gordon late in his life (he died in 1991) while he was
working as a lumberjack in the New Forest. I saw him occasionally
with Chris Brasher. Pirie ran in the London Marathon in (from memory)
the late 1980s. He planned to run with me, but dropped out at around
22 miles. I used to joke with him that he could keep running for ever
as long as he found things to think about. But he ran out of thoughts
around 22.
One of the topics of conversation between me and Chris Brasher in the
pubs on Wimbledon Common was how many miles athletes had covered in
their life times. I would always champion Arthur Newton, while
Brasher would go for Pirie and Ron Hill, and of course it was all
open-ended because Pirie and Hill hadn't finished yet. Hill keeps a
remarkable record of every mile he's done. He told me that in
December 2004 he had clocked up over 145,000 miles so far. He's still
running 20 to 30 miles a week so he'll need some catching.
I am sure that Gordon Pirie must have clocked up well over 100,000
miles. He was already running when he was inspired by Emil Zatopek in
the1948 London Olympics. That legacy inspired him not just to run
every day, but to put in big mileages. He kept that up through out
his competitive career, when all received wisdom was that he did too
much mileage, and set a pattern that was carried through much of his
life. So 40 years after he had been inspired by Zatopek, he was still
scoffing at the amount of mileage I was covering (around 70 mpw at the
time).
For my part, I suspect that I have passed the 100,000 mark some while
ago. I started racing in 1958, at age 14, and this year at age 64 I
have run four marathons. My training diaries have been sporadic, but
when I've keep them some of the totals have shocked me with totals of
up to 100 in 60s, 70s and early 80s. I was on a steak of 12 years
(which unlike Ron Hill meant that I had to run at least 3 miles every
day, and occasionally 10 times that). An accident in late 1980s
slowed me down a lot, but I struggled back up to 70. At 64 I'm down
to 25-30, though it goes up a bit before marathons and I still run my
son's age in miles every birthday (he's now 34!) But who's counting?
There aren't any medals for wearing out shoes. But I haven't quite
hit the mileage I existed on 50 years ago at the age of 14....but
there's plenty of time left yet.
Walter Murphy has run about 110,000 lifetime miles
Walter Murphy
Boxboro, MA
DOB: 11-30-1953 -------------------------------------------
Started running in high school in 1969. Relatively low mileage during my high school years except going into my senior year I was running 10 miles per day that summer (inspired by S.I.'s article on Prefontaine.) Didn't keep a log until I jonined the Greater Boston Track Club in late 1976. Started running big mileage during the late 70's and early 80's (100 plus per week - biggest year was 1980 where I averaged 15 miles per day). Had good success in the New England area at local road races. Best 10K of 30:28 - best marathon 2:23:10. Ran Boston 10 times with a PR for that course of 2:26 in 1981. Mileage tapered off in the early 90's to 2000 averaging around 3000 per year. Currently running around 45 to 50 miles per week (when not injured) plus cross training a lot.
Mark Bauman has about 110,000 lifetime miles
Mark Bauman
Flushing, MI
DOB: 3-11-1950
-------------------------------------------
I started running xc in high school in 1966. I have run about 110,000 miles but no longer keep a log. I have finished 150+ marathons. My only DNF was my first marathon, Detroit in 1968. This April I'll be running my 40th Boston, if all goes well.
Flushing, MI
DOB: 3-11-1950
-------------------------------------------
I started running xc in high school in 1966. I have run about 110,000 miles but no longer keep a log. I have finished 150+ marathons. My only DNF was my first marathon, Detroit in 1968. This April I'll be running my 40th Boston, if all goes well.
Tom Abbott has 103,000 lifetime miles
Tom Abbott
Indiana Township, PA
DOB: 6-6-55
------------------------------------------
I grew up in Pgh Pennsylvania. I live in an eastern suburb called Indiana township. Was born on June 6, 1955. Hit the 100 k on 1/7/2006. Ran the 100,000th mile and the 100,001 mile with my daughter on a memorial trail that is named after a good buddy (Steve Faloon) in the early 80 's. I ran my first mile on that same trail back in 1970 and competed in high school, college, and still do the trails in Schenley park.
I am actually at 103K+ miles right now. Hit 100K a couple of years back. I also have every mile documented, although not in as great detail as Don Slusser. I recently qualified for the senior olympic games in San Francisco next August.
Indiana Township, PA
DOB: 6-6-55
------------------------------------------
I grew up in Pgh Pennsylvania. I live in an eastern suburb called Indiana township. Was born on June 6, 1955. Hit the 100 k on 1/7/2006. Ran the 100,000th mile and the 100,001 mile with my daughter on a memorial trail that is named after a good buddy (Steve Faloon) in the early 80 's. I ran my first mile on that same trail back in 1970 and competed in high school, college, and still do the trails in Schenley park.
I am actually at 103K+ miles right now. Hit 100K a couple of years back. I also have every mile documented, although not in as great detail as Don Slusser. I recently qualified for the senior olympic games in San Francisco next August.
Dan Larson has 115,000 lifetime miles, and no records to prove it
Dan Larson is an old friend from my running days in Connecticut. Now he's an M.D. in New York who'll be starting his 40th Boston Marathon this April. His wife Victoria was part of a midwife practice that delivered my daughter Laura. But Vicki had the day off when Laura decided to make her appearance. Good friends, good people.
-------------------------------
Dan Larson
Queensbury, NY
DOB: 7-11-1951
While I could estimate that I have run well over 100,000 miles ( my guess is about 115,000), I have never kept a training log of any kind. I am fortunate to remember what I ran two days ago. It is one of the joys of being a recreational runner and not being excessively competitive. I still enjoy a close race against a friend but I never seem to care enough to lose any sleep over it. When I last had a coach in 1973 (Bob Giegengack), "Gieg" kept records. The freedom to run a lot or a little, on the paths or on the roads, with friends or alone, is one of the joys of running as exercise. I once had a streak of more than 15 yrs with at least two miles/day before it was stopped by a back injury. I felt liberated after that streak had ended. There are now many days where I cycle, cross country ski or hike instead of running. I suspect that for the past two years I have done fewer than 3 miles/day on average. Of course, there are moments of panic starting in late February when I realize Boston is only 7 wks away and all of a sudden I do more.
This April will be my 40th BAA start and, lord willing, my 39th finish. I proudly say that I have qualified for every one of those without ever needing any kind of exemption from the qualifying times. That, too, will eventually come to an end but I have enjoyed it all and made many fine friends.
-------------------------------
Dan Larson
Queensbury, NY
DOB: 7-11-1951
While I could estimate that I have run well over 100,000 miles ( my guess is about 115,000), I have never kept a training log of any kind. I am fortunate to remember what I ran two days ago. It is one of the joys of being a recreational runner and not being excessively competitive. I still enjoy a close race against a friend but I never seem to care enough to lose any sleep over it. When I last had a coach in 1973 (Bob Giegengack), "Gieg" kept records. The freedom to run a lot or a little, on the paths or on the roads, with friends or alone, is one of the joys of running as exercise. I once had a streak of more than 15 yrs with at least two miles/day before it was stopped by a back injury. I felt liberated after that streak had ended. There are now many days where I cycle, cross country ski or hike instead of running. I suspect that for the past two years I have done fewer than 3 miles/day on average. Of course, there are moments of panic starting in late February when I realize Boston is only 7 wks away and all of a sudden I do more.
This April will be my 40th BAA start and, lord willing, my 39th finish. I proudly say that I have qualified for every one of those without ever needing any kind of exemption from the qualifying times. That, too, will eventually come to an end but I have enjoyed it all and made many fine friends.
Mike Beeman has 104,032 lifetime miles
Mike Beeman
Tifton, GA
DOB: 5-07-56
------------------------------------------
I have 104,032 miles as of this AM. I am entered in the BAA for my 32nd time.
Tifton, GA
DOB: 5-07-56
------------------------------------------
I have 104,032 miles as of this AM. I am entered in the BAA for my 32nd time.
Richard J. Carling has 100,065 lifetime miles
Richard J. Carling
Salt Lake City UT
DOB: 12-06-37
-------------------------------------------------------
I started running at age 39 when I was a member of the Utah State Senate. I was taken from the senate floor to the lounge thinking I was having a heart attack. The doctors said it was stress and that I needed to do aerobic exercise to releave my stress. I started running and ran my first marathon at age 40 and the rest is history. I am now 71 years old and have no thought of stopping running.
I have now logged 100,065 miles as of 1-3-09 and have run 126 marathons including 30 Boston and 29 Honolulu Maratons.
Salt Lake City UT
DOB: 12-06-37
-------------------------------------------------------
I started running at age 39 when I was a member of the Utah State Senate. I was taken from the senate floor to the lounge thinking I was having a heart attack. The doctors said it was stress and that I needed to do aerobic exercise to releave my stress. I started running and ran my first marathon at age 40 and the rest is history. I am now 71 years old and have no thought of stopping running.
I have now logged 100,065 miles as of 1-3-09 and have run 126 marathons including 30 Boston and 29 Honolulu Maratons.
Bill Rodgers estimates 125,000 lifetime miles
Bill Rodgers
Boston suburbs
DOB: 12-23-47
-------------------------------------------
Boston suburbs
DOB: 12-23-47
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Frank Shorter indicated to me he thinks he's at about 125,000 miles, and our career path /ages /time we began running (age 15),and emphasis on the need for mileage for Marathon success, leads me to about the same number.
Would have to tally my logs!
Dave McGillivray has 127,000 lifetime miles
Dave McGillivray
North Andover, MA
DOB: 8-22-54
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North Andover, MA
DOB: 8-22-54
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Started running when I was 12 years old...1966 (averaged about 20 miles a week in the 60's). First marathon completed when I was 18 (Boston). Have finished everyone I started by my first (Boston when I was 17).
In the 70's, I was averaging 80 miles a week. My real BIG years were from 1973 to 1990. I was obsessed...more was better.
During my training for my cross country and journey type runs, the mileage was more like 100-140 miles a week. I use to run home from college a lot - Merrimack to Medford.
Of course, during the cross country run and up the east coast run it was over 300 miles a week.
In the 80's and 90's my mileage was approx. 65-70 miles a week. I was actually running close to 20-30 miles "a day" (3 splits) when I was training for my 24-hour run in 1980...before work, lunch time and when I got home...not much of a life then, I know.
In the 2000's, it has dropped to an average of 30 miles a week.
I run approximately 6 days a week, consistently and have all my life. Never have taken any extended time off.
So, total is approximately :
1966-1969 = 4,000
1970-1979 = 43,000 (just 1978 was about 8,500 -- 3,452 just from 6/11 to 8/29)
1980-1989 = 35,000
1990-1999 = 30,000
2000-2008 = 15,000 (big decline as you can see)
Total = 127,000. So, I reached 100,000 somewhere in 1997 or so...thus I was around 43.
Dave Dunham has run 103,937 miles
Dave is a CPA who has very rigorous records, Excel spreadsheets, documenting his lifetime of running. He might be one of the youngest 100K runners. I'll ask him for his birth date. Got it. See below.
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Dave Dunham
Bradford MA
DOB: 3-27-1964
I have run 103,937 miles, averaging 9.48 miles per day from December 1978 – present.
Have won 348 races while competing in 1,034 races covering 6,325 miles.
Ran on every street in Londonderry, NH in one calendar year.
Career Highlights
30 Year winning streak: Has won at least one race a year from 1979-Present.
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Dave Dunham
Bradford MA
DOB: 3-27-1964
I have run 103,937 miles, averaging 9.48 miles per day from December 1978 – present.
Have won 348 races while competing in 1,034 races covering 6,325 miles.
Ran on every street in Londonderry, NH in one calendar year.
Career Highlights
30 Year winning streak: Has won at least one race a year from 1979-Present.
Mark Covert has run 150,877 miles
Mark has been keeping careful records of his running streak, which began on July 23, 1968. He's universally recognized as the longest "streaker" in the U.S., having run at least one mile a day since the streak began.
Mark was recently featured on the ABC Nightly News.
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Just got done doing my yearly totals and my lifetime total miles is now
150,877. Happy New Year to all of you.
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Mark Covert
Mark was recently featured on the ABC Nightly News.
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Just got done doing my yearly totals and my lifetime total miles is now
150,877. Happy New Year to all of you.
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Mark Covert
Ron Hill puts his lifetime total at 151,000 miles
Last September I spoke with England's Ron Hill about his wellknown running streak and total lifetime miles. It was his 70th birthday. Hill, a meticulous record keeper, puts his total miles at about 151,000.
This makes me a little dubious about people claiming to have over 200,000 miles, which would require someone to log 3000+ miles per year (60 miles a week) for over 60 years. Still, I guess it's possible. I hope to explore this subject in more depth as this blog develops.
Here's the full Ron Hill interview.
This makes me a little dubious about people claiming to have over 200,000 miles, which would require someone to log 3000+ miles per year (60 miles a week) for over 60 years. Still, I guess it's possible. I hope to explore this subject in more depth as this blog develops.
Here's the full Ron Hill interview.
Amby talks about this blog and his 102,000 lifetime miles
Amby Burfoot
Emmaus PA
DOB: 8-19-46
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For the last week or two, I have been corresponding with various people about their lifetime running miles. It's a subject that has interested me for a long time. I put my own lifetime total at about 115,000, though my personal record keeping has been almost non-existent for the last 30 years.
At some point, as I was trying to figure out how to keep track of various correspondences, I decided a simple blog might be the easiest way. So here it is: the 100k lifetime miles blog.
At some point, I might turn this into a web site with the same name. But for now, it's a blog that I'll update whenever I get some interesting new data to pass along.
[A week later, I decided to re-evaluate my own totals, and I think I should dock myself 13,000 miles. That puts me at about 102,000 lifetime miles. This is based on the following, assuming 50 weeks a year of healthy running:
1963, 1964: 30 miles a week; 3,000 subtotal
1965, 1966: 60 miles a week; 6,000 subtotal
1967-1976: 100/week; 50,000 subtotal
1977-1980: 40/week; 8,000 subtotal
1981-present: 25/week; 35,000 subtotal
1963-end of 2008: 102,00 total]
Emmaus PA
DOB: 8-19-46
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For the last week or two, I have been corresponding with various people about their lifetime running miles. It's a subject that has interested me for a long time. I put my own lifetime total at about 115,000, though my personal record keeping has been almost non-existent for the last 30 years.
At some point, as I was trying to figure out how to keep track of various correspondences, I decided a simple blog might be the easiest way. So here it is: the 100k lifetime miles blog.
At some point, I might turn this into a web site with the same name. But for now, it's a blog that I'll update whenever I get some interesting new data to pass along.
[A week later, I decided to re-evaluate my own totals, and I think I should dock myself 13,000 miles. That puts me at about 102,000 lifetime miles. This is based on the following, assuming 50 weeks a year of healthy running:
1963, 1964: 30 miles a week; 3,000 subtotal
1965, 1966: 60 miles a week; 6,000 subtotal
1967-1976: 100/week; 50,000 subtotal
1977-1980: 40/week; 8,000 subtotal
1981-present: 25/week; 35,000 subtotal
1963-end of 2008: 102,00 total]
Gary Corbitt reports on his father, Ted
At the reception I raised the question about whether my father had run more
total miles than anyone. If he hadn't gotten hit with the asthma I could
confidently say yes. Prior to the asthma he was making plans to run across
the country in something like 42 days @ 70+ miles per day. His record month
was August 1966 at 862 miles. He three times ran 300+ mile weeks. He also
had a 13 year streak of running twice a day. I have his training logs going
back to the late 40's and perhaps later this year I can do a total. I'll
keep you posted as we continue to review his papers. Actual I'll check his
logs this week as I believe he kept yearly total.
Top Mileage Totals from the U.S. Running Streak Assoc.
from RunEveryDay.com, the web site of the U.S. Running Streak Association. These don't appear to be verified, and some seem unlikely. Amby
The Cumulative Running Miles List
Through a combination of contacting individuals and making educated guesses, here is a list of total miles runners on the streak list have completed since they began running (as opposed to total streak miles). This is the top 21 (those with 95,000 miles or more), including retired streakers. There are several in the 80,000 to 90,000 category as well.
These estimates are as of January 1, 2008:
Herbert Fred (79) 228,300
Don Slusser (56) 175,000
Jon Sutherland (57) 175,000
Craig Davidson (54) 171,100
Jim Pearson (63) 153,100
Mark Covert (57) 148,500
George Brown (55) 126,500
Ken Young (66) 124,500
Steve DeBoer (53) 123,400
Bob Ray (70) 122,000
Steve Morrow (44) 115,200
James Behr (60) 113,000
Kenneth Roth (51) 112,000
John Liepa (62) 109,000
Scott Ludwig (53) 108,500
Timothy Masters (57) 106,600
William Moreland (61) 105,500
Robert Kraft (57) 97,800
Steve Gathje (52) 97,000
Homer Hastings (64) 96,000
Barry Abrahams (57) 95,000
I am aware of only a few runners who have accumulated 200,000 miles or more in their lifetimes. Gordon Pirie had over 250,000 miles and Ted Corbitt had over 200,000. So Herb Fred is probably #2 on the all time list. I suspect Bill Rodgers is in the 175,000-185,000 range. Based on age and current yearly running mileage, it looks like the following individuals have the best chance of reaching 200,000: Don Slusser, Jon Sutherland, Craig Davidson, and Steve Morrow.
Harvey Simon (65) 90,500
Craig Snapp (57) 85,400
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