Before the boom Marathon researchers have now delved back 70 had been queried at the time and years, finding the bare statistics that tell a history. reportedly re-measured. Andy Milroy elaborates. What is even more surprising is the way that times by the same runner The Association of Road Racing run on different courses were often Statisticians (ARRS) has made very similar. It would seem there researching marathon performances was a degree consistency in course of the past central to their mission. measurement. However, Marathons There are two interlinked initiatives were held in relatively few countries underway at the moment in pursuit and it was in those countries of this. without a long established tradition of marathon events that issues with The Annual Marathon Rankings short courses later emerged. Project has now documented the last 70 years. The end result of this Using excel allows courses that research are annual lists – usually produce faster performances to be going down as far as the 200th identified. An average performance fastest performance - for the years for a specific runner can be from 1940 to 2009. These are calculated and suspicion will fall on posted on the ARRS website any race in which that runner (http://www.arrs.net/YR_Mara.htm) significantly betters his average (in . those days there were almost no women running Marathons). The parallel Yearly Marathons Project, co-ordinated by Ken In the 1940s and earlier it was not Young, has now produced well unusual for a runner to run four or developed draft lists for every five marathons a year - some ran known marathon held during the even more. Some were so consistent years 1940-2009 (see: they could almost be used as http://www.arrs.net/MaraList.htm). standard candles - to use an Together these two projects take astronomical term. A sudden marathon research far beyond what improvement in their time raised has previously been attempted. The questions about the race and its ARRS network of statisticians from course. around the World have pooled their research and knowledge to create The data which has been collected the most complete picture of the and posted on the ARRS website is event which has come to dominate an immense resource for those long distance running in the latter interested in analysing marathon, half of the twentieth century and indeed sporting performance data into the twenty-first. and how it changes over time. It JIM PETERS ENTERS THE STADIUM AT THE END OF THE POLYTECHNIC MARATHON provides insight into how one of So how does marathon running FROM WINDSOR TO CHISWICK IN THE EARLY 1950S, IN ONE OF HIS THREE WORLD the most interesting grass roots way back in the 1940s compare RECORD BREAKING RUNS ON THE COURSE (2:20:43 IN 1952, 2:18:35 IN 1953 AND sporting events - the big city with the present day? Back then, 2:17:40 IN 1954) marathon - evolved in terms of 70 years ago, the only marathon both performance level and race held in many countries was the Specific dietary preparation was the Comrades Marathon course in participation. It offers sociologists annual national championships. limited to eating a hearty steak the 1930s by that method. Just as and economists insight into how Even where marathons were more alarmingly close to the start of the today, courses which were such a grass roots sport, not common, such events were race. The virtues of “carbo- obviously short or aided were dependent on heavy infrastructure relatively small – a field of 50 loading” were yet to be discovered. flagged up and those events were costs, was affected by social and runners was a big marathon. investigated. This happened in the economic factors, both nationally Marathon runners were a small, 1880s, the 1900s and, to judge and internationally. It was much tougher to finish a select group. Marathons were from the information we have Marathon then than it is now. The usually clustered geographically researched, ever since. The intention is to extend the conditions under which runners close to each other – in the United research back to 1900 and earlier, trained and competed were far less States, for example, most of the To some degree, marathon runners and excellent progress is already favourable. Light-weight canvas events took place on the East coast, are a measuring device in their own being made towards achieving this shoes with thin rubber soles offered and with such a small community right. Each runner knows, and goal. The research is ongoing and very little protection against impact. of runners it was not uncommon perhaps more importantly their earlier years will be added to the Any runners who were not bio- for top runners to tackle three or opponents know, the times that ARRS website as soon as they can mechanically sound – for example, four marathons a year. each runner can produce in a be researched and processed. if they pronated too much or too marathon. A notably faster result little – would very easily sustain Marathon courses were not raises questions, particularly if In addition to the Marathons knee or ankle problems and be measured to the same accuracy as numerous runners in the same event projects, the ARRS website also unable to finish an event. High- today. Measurement by today’s have significantly faster than documents hundreds of long held tech running shoes, designed to approved calibrated bicycle method expected times. marathons, road, and track and minimise problems with foot strike, was unknown until the 1960s and cross country races, including feet or ankles were completely did not come into widespread use Using the excel program, I have national and international unknown to those runners. until the 1980s. Despite this, it can entered all the marathon data for championships. For further be argued that within any particular several years in the 1950s and then information see: www.arrs.net Many Marathon organisers did not era the variation between one sorted according to individual provide drinks stations. Where they course and another would be cases. It was something of a did, service was very restricted so similar. surprise to find that there were THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN that hot weather conditions caused none of the major variations that THIS ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE major problems. Runners In the 1940s accurate measurement might have been expected. Only AUTHOR AND DO NOT themselves were not fully aware of would have been by surveyor's one race was thrown up as notably NECCESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF AIMS OR IAAF the importance of hydration. wheel. Arthur Newton measured “faster” - and that was one which Distance Running July – September 2009 25 Paul Selby – comrade What keeps this man PAUL SELBY (LEFT) WITH DISTANCE RUNNING going on his epic COMRADES IN THE HANNOVER MARATHON 2009 ultramarathon quest, he can’t really explain, but Alison Kay offers some insights He might say it’s faith. Others might add words like passion, courage and sheer determination to succeed. Whatever drives him, Paul Selby is something of a running legend in his adopted homeland of South Africa. He runs for pleasure and for charity. His business is designing and producing finisher medals for marathon runners worldwide. He launched the1000km Challenge to acknowledge those who run huge distances every year in training for the iconic Comrades Marathon in South Africa. This year he tackled his 25th consecutive Comrades Marathon – despite badly breaking his ankle on a casual training run last October. Paul has come a long way from his 1983 invitation from workmates to participate in a company relay – he’s come more than 100,000km in with a share of the charity money races in the year running from training had affected his strength in fact. Back then he didn’t know to distribute in the homeland he Comrades to Comrades. For this other ways. He says “with God’s what a relay was. Now he clocks adopted in 1973. they receive a bronze medal, a t- help” he will be back on the up at least 2000km a year in shirt and recognition of the hours winning trail next year. official competitions, without On 1 October last year, Paul they have committed to distance counting the training runs. sustained a triple ankle break running. A portion of their One of Paul’s proudest during a training run - his first Challenge entry fee is donated to achievements was receiving a Spirit Distance isn’t an issue for this serious injury in 25 years of charity. Personalised silver, gold of Comrades Award in 2007, English expatriot. In 1999 he running. He focused on fully and platinum medals are presented acknowledging his support of the completed a 180km back-to-back recovering in time for his 25th to runners who cover 1000 miles, race, his back-to-back Comrades Comrades Marathon, raising Comrades ultra-marathon this year 1500 miles and 5023km (combined run, the 1000km Challenge and his 200,000 rand for the Cancer – also his 640th all-time marathon. bronze, silver and gold distances) in penchant for helping struggling Association of South Africa. The a year. runners along the route. feat has never been repeated. Complications meant three months on crutches, after which Paul spent Paul says 11 runners have Charitable causes are something In 2003, he joined a team of five hours aqua-jogging and walking to completed all 19 years with one Paul feels strongly about. In the fellow Brits aiming to run 1000 rebuild muscle-tone around the person holding the record of almost country that has given him a home, miles in 1000 hours around the ankle.