Ed Whitlock’s latest WR is half-marathon under 1 hour, 40 minutes

Ed is captured cruising to his latest WR post-80, a half-marathon in 1:38:59.

The Montreal Gazette brings news of another world record for ageless distance ace Ed Whitlock. “Wearing bib #1, Ed Whitlock set a new world record for the half marathon in his hometown of Milton, Ontario, this past weekend. The 81-year-old posted a time of 1:38:59, 11 seconds better than the old world record. World records are old hat for Whitlock, who owns the WR in the marathon distance for the 70-74 (2:54.48), 75-79 (3:04.53) and 80-84 (3:15.54) age groups.” The 2012 run is slower than his 1:37:38 in Toronto a year ago, so this might be a single-age record. Anyway: Congrats, Ed. Keep on truckin’!

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September 17, 2012

10 Responses

  1. Mike Sullivan - September 18, 2012

    Beyond my comprehension………..under 8 minute pace for 13 miles…..Will share this with my 8th grade students before their timed mile this week…..
    Thanks for inspiring us all Mr. Whitlock,
    Sully

  2. Peter Taylor - September 18, 2012

    The man’s a thoroughbred, Sully. I had the pleasure of announcing him at 2007 Orono nationals — he tuned up the rest of the 5000-meter runners very nicely. In fact, he averaged 6:24.4 per mile in that race at age 76.

    He is a smooth strider as well, and we had a nice conversation later. As they say in the U.S., Ed, you’re the man.

  3. Terry Ballou - September 18, 2012

    Unbelievable!!! What an inspiration for all of us. Can’t wait to see what record you will shatter next. Congrats.

  4. Mike Sullivan - September 18, 2012

    Mr. Taylor,
    Hope to see you Announcing Indoor Nationals in Maryland in March….Training Going great here in Arizona!
    Sully

  5. Peter Taylor - September 18, 2012

    Thank you, Sully. Now if we can only get Mr. Whitlock to enter that meet, which begins on March 22, or 6 months and 4 days from today.

    Ed Whitlock could run the 3000 on Friday, the mile on Saturday, and the 800 on Sunday. He would be an absolute lock to break the world indoor 1-mile mark (M80) of 6:48.02 by John Keston. How do I know? When Ed ran 12:00.88 for a world indoor M80 mark in the 3000 at Kamloops he averaged 6:26.7 per mile.

    Yes, I expect to be in Landover for the big event. As for the outdoors (Olathe, Kansas), that meet is only 10 months away but I have not been chosen. Furthermore, the meet did not make the USATF schedule. I believe there might be a problem with arrangements for the hammer throw.

    Hope that you will be able to make both Landover and Olathe, Sully.

  6. Mary Harada - September 18, 2012

    Hope to see you in Maryland Peter. As for Olathe – yes I heard that the hammer cage is the issue – time will tell I guess.
    And indeed it would be fantastic if Ed Whitlock could make it to the indoor meet. He is one heck of a runner.

  7. Mike Sullivan - September 19, 2012

    Mr. Taylor,
    If healthy I plan on running in Landover and Olathe,
    Sully

  8. Don Pratt - September 19, 2012

    If there is a better runner, at the age of 81, than
    Ed Whitlock, I would like to see him.

    I ran against Ed, several years ago, in Maine and
    he distroyed all of us.

    At the 2011 World meet, he set record after record.

    What a runner.

  9. Peter Taylor - September 19, 2012

    Don Pratt, maybe you thought you were in the wrong race when you got your first glimpse of that gazelle (Ed Whitlock) up in Orono in 2007.

    Mary Harada, look forward to seeing you.

    Sully, Olathe should feel like an oasis to you. As you may know, your town (Gilbert, Arizona) had 27 days this past July when the temperature reached at least 100, with a high of 115.

    In contrast, Olathe had only 13 days with a high of 100 or better in July, with a high of just 108. But for balance I decided to look at the 2011 temps for Olathe, and I was not surprised to find that they were not as bad as this year.

    In July 2011, Olathe had only 11 days with a high of 100 or better, and on the hottest day of the month the temperature reached just 105. Very, very easy for you, Sully.

  10. Mike Sullivan - September 19, 2012

    Love the heat- Thats Why I moved from Boston to Arizona = ASU No snow days here……But did have a coyote in my back yard messing with my chickens this week….
    Eating Organic Eggs in AZ.
    Sully

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