Ed Whitlock targeting M85 track records in the 1500 and ‘up’

Ed at the 2013 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Ed at the 2013 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Masters marathoners just wanna have fun — even at age 85. I contacted Ed Whitlock after his amazing double WR at Canadian masters nationals, and he graciously explained about that 4×400 relay. But he couldn’t tell me what his split was. “Don’t know,” Ed said. “I’m not aware anyone took it. I am sure it was nothing special; it was shortly after the 1500 and a low-key effort, the team had no real competition and there was no record possibility.” The 1500 was merely the fastest ever run in that age group, indoors or out. And he even thought he’d go faster in the metric mile. But his 15 and 3K records are just the start. Check out my quickie Q&A with The Legend.

Masterstrack.com: You became the fastest M85 indoors or out in the 1500 and 3000. Did your times exceed your expectations?

Ed Whitlock: The time for 3000 was 3 seconds better than my target, the 1500 8 seconds worse.

Did anyone help pace you in these races, or did you lap people constantly?

No, the 3000 was a mixed age-group and gender race. Several runners lapped me at least twice and I lapped others similarly. The 1500 was men only, but mixed age groups and similar disparity in ability.

Are you running with any injuries or illnesses? Any other challenges to recording these times?

No injuries at the moment, but I have been up and down over the past two years with various issues. I am not fully fit at the moment, and I am reasonably certain I could have run better times if my preparation had not been interrupted recently as well as over the past two years.

What other distances will you try this season? Where will you compete outdoors?

I will see how things go. If I can stay injury free, I will try for the outdoor track records 1500 up, mainly in the Toronto area

Are you done yet with this insane infatuation with the marathon? Or do new record attempts await?

I still have ideas I will run another marathon sometime, but it depends how training progresses and may not be this year.

Who is studying you? Anybody taking tissue samples or measuring other metrics?

No one at the moment. I was part of the McGill study three years back

How did you celebrate your latest records?

I didn’t really

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March 22, 2016

9 Responses

  1. Sarah Raetsen - March 23, 2016

    I was helping out at the meet all weekend, so I was able to chat with Ed on both days. He said that he went out too fast in the 1,500 and was much better with his pacing in the 3,000.

    I was shocked to see he’d moved up to the M85 age group! He inspired many a young(er) athlete this weekend and gained even more fans!

    Long may you run, Ed!

  2. Terry Ballou - March 23, 2016

    Simply amazing. I tell all the high school runners around here about you and they have a hard time believing me at first. You are an inspiration and I’m sure you are not done with that record book yet. Keep it up!

  3. A Master's Runner - March 25, 2016

    Amazing! Congratulations Ed, you are an inspiration.

  4. Ken Stone - August 1, 2016

    M85 WR in 5000 for Ed:
    http://runningmagazine.ca/speedy-85-year-old-canadian-ed-whitlock-breaks-5000m-world-record/

    Will wait for meet to end to report all EW records.

  5. tb - March 13, 2017

    This came as a surprise, having just recently watched some of his news reports:

    http://athleticsillustrated.com/recent-relevant-news/ed-whitlock-dead-at-age-86/

  6. Track fan - March 13, 2017

    RIP Ed. What an inspiring man.

  7. Art Healy - March 13, 2017

    Unquestionably the greatest 70+ male distance runner to ever live.

    Was just watching one of the greatest moments in Masters distance running history- a video of Ed handing off to Earl Fee on the 80+ world record 4×800 team. Sub 3 minutes 800m at age 82, in an off event. Staggering. The GOAT at distance and the GOAT at middle distance, teammates.

    Rest in Peace Mr. Whitlock.

  8. Matt B. - March 13, 2017

    So sad. I never like seeing this type of news.
    He was certainly one of the greatest.
    Rest in peace

  9. Gerald - March 14, 2017

    Having the courage, being inspired, having goals, and believing in ones self, always makes us try to do things many say can’t be done. Some say why push yourself, others say why subject yourself to pain or injury. This man like few others went far beyond what is possible. What a legacy of the human spirt.

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