Ed Whitlock, Oldest Marathoner to Break Four Hours, Dies at 86

[JSngry]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/sports/ed-whitlock-dead-masters-marathon-record-setter.html

The British-born Mr. Whitlock trained in a cemetery near his home in Milton, Ontario, outside Toronto, running laps for three hours or more at a time in his shuffling style. He had no coach, followed no special diet, did no stretching except on the morning of a race, got no massages and took no medication, except for a supplement for his knees.

The training itself was drudgery, Mr. Whitlock said, and he did not run for his health. He simply enjoyed setting records and getting attention. And those records forced scientists and fellow runners to reassess the possibilities of aging and performance.

“His performances were so far out there beyond what anyone has done or could imagine,” said Amby Burfoot, the winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and a longtime editor at Runner’s World magazine.

“We worshiped him as a god even though he had no interest in being a god,” Mr. Burfoot said.

[EKE BBB]

As a popular marathon runner myself, one of my heroes. RIP 

As a popular marathon runner myself, one of my heroes. RIP 

 

[T.D.]

RIP. An amazing story.

PS: "...Then 73, he became the first person age 70 or older to complete a marathon in under three hours, finishing in 2:54:48. He is still the only one..."

My best marathon time was 2:54:40, but I was 32 years old...Kinda embarrassing next to Mr. Whitlock!