WSLongboat's Legacy :: MyNextRace.com

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 05:57 PM

One of Canada's greatest Sporting Legends.

Tom Longboat with the 1907 winner's trophy. See real pictures of the trophy here:

www.bostonteaparty.ca

Before there was a Wayne Gretzky, before there was a Bobby Orr or Maurice Richard, and even before there was a National Hockey League, Canada had an enduring sports legend.

Tom Longboat, who wore running shoes, not skates, was the fastest man of his age. The Boston Marathon, scheduled for Monday, marks the 100th anniversary of the record-setting victory by the member of the Onondaga Nation in one of the world's most famous sports events. Time has struck down most who would remember Longboat, but nothing erodes his legend. He braved sleet, driving rain and bitter cold winds to win that year in 2 hours 24 minutes 24 seconds, a Boston record by almost five minutes and a time that still would rank him 27th among 20,000 runners last year.

In the course of the 1907 race, he had to beat a freight train to a level crossing. Most remarkable: After running a punishing 25 miles, Longboat, six weeks before his 20th birthday, showed a mature runner's power and endurance to gallop the last mile in 4:45, when the world record for the mile was 4:15. The Boston Globe heralded Longboat as "the most marvellous runner who has sped over our roads."

Read more about this great story....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070414.LONGBOAT14/EmailTPStory/Sports

Note:
thanks to the Globe and Mail's James Christie for this awesome article!, one of the best sports writers period!

Readers, don't forget to submit your race story, view our Canada and USA race calendars, find your next triathlon, submit a marathon or half-marathon re-cap, cycling adventure, triathlon journey, or any other race-related story about yourracing,, event experience. My Next Race .com. A series of articles, races, maybe there is an ultra-marathon magazine article you like, or half-marathons worth reporting to our readers? Ultra-marathons, in 2006 or 2007 are worth writing about – 2006 or 2007 event information.
Canada Race Calendar – Marathon, Triathlon, Cycling.