Original Gangsters Of Running (Gary Tuttle)

“I didn’t like the marathon because I wasn’t good at it.  My best distance was right around an hour, or 20K.  Had there been an Olympic 20K berth, I would have made the team.  The 10k was a little short for me, and the marathon was far too long.”

Lasse Viren 20K. A Joe Volk photo.

When did you start running and why?

Started running cross country my sophomore year in high school, 1961. Played varsity baseball my junior year, dropped baseball because I could not hit a varsity curve ball. Ran cross country in the fall because I knew football was not an option for a 118 lbs., slow-footed coward. Didn’t run track until senior year, 1965. That was the year California finally added the two-mile.

Toughest opponent and why?

My toughest opponent, besides a marathon distance, was Dave Babiracki. We were the two best Southern California road runners and we were always alone at the front.

San Francisco, 1974

Most memorable run and why?

Got the most publicity for winning San Francisco 1974 Bay to Breakers, and getting second in 1985 Boston marathon.

Second is good there.

However, my best race ever was 7th place – first American – in 1976 World Cross-Country Championships in Wales, Great Britain.

I was the only finisher in the top 20 not to be on their country’s Olympic track team.

Biggest disappointment and why?

My biggest disappointment is having never run a fast marathon. I was getting beat by guys running 2:10 and 2:11 in the marathon. I was beating those same runners by 30 to 45 seconds in 10k and 20k. I was also disappointed in running in five USA Olympic Trials races, and never making the team.

What would you do differently if you could do it again?  Why?

If I could go back in time, I would take a season training to break the four-minute mile. 4:00.

Many nonrunners ask me, “Did you break four minutes?” When my answer is “No,” they seem to wonder if I really was good. My best mile was 4:03, and ran a 2:59 1320 as the lead-off leg of Humboldt State distance medly relay. I think that four-minute speed would have helped my Olympic Trials 10,000 results.

Favorite philosopher?  Quote?

My favorite philosopher? Former UCLA coach, John Wooden. His Pyramid of Success is a building block, so to speak, towards real success.

Special song of the era?

I was a Bob Dylan fan, so anything he did was special. “Don’t think twice, it’s all right.”

Favorite comedian?

George Carlin.

Ah, Carlin. The author of “The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” Also responsible for “Ever wonder about those people who spend $2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backward.” George is an OGOR favorite.

What was your ‘best stretch of running’?  

My competitive career at the national and international level was from 1967 to 1987. Collegiately, I was division NCAA 3000 steeplechase champion twice. In the 1970s I competed in international races for USA in 25 countries. In the 1980s I was still racing well and ran my PR 10,000 meters at 36 years of age.

And so why do you think you hit that level at that time?

I was tough, fit, and did not like to be beat. Unfortunately, in running competitively, the better you get, the faster the opponents and the less you win. As my wife so bluntly put it, “Don’t you ever win”? Sure, I’ll just race in California.

What was your edge?

See ‘did not like to get beat.’

What supplementary exercises did you do?

Except for college steeplechase where I did my track repeats over hurdles in lane three chasing my non-steeplechase teammates who were in Lane one, I did not do anything extra. Nothing but run.

What was your toughest injury and how did you deal with it?

1986, I tore my left quad, so I rode a bike for five years. Two hundred (200) miles hard on a weekly basis.

Became a Masters age-group racer. Won the two-stage road race Death Vally to Whitney Portal 100 miler in 40 and over class. We started the second day at the bottom of the mountain. We had to climb the 8374 feet elevation. With 25 miles to go. I began the day in fourth place, by the end of the climb I was five minutes ahead of my closest challenger.

The serious bikers were furious that an ex runner could beat them so bad. I loved it.

Like he said. Gary Tuttle does not like to get beat.

Bruce Kritzler told Ricky Quintana that’s Tony Bateman in the FTC singlet with Gary in the lead.
Jeff Johnson photo, Courtesy Walt Chadwick.

Humbolt’s Hall of Fame

Personal bests

TypeDistanceTimeFlagsSiteDateActions
RD5 km16:51*Carlsbad CA/USA29 Mar 1998
RD10 km28:59Northridge CA/USA06 Sep 1981
RD15 km45:14Santa Barbara CA/USA03 Jul 1982
RD10 mi59:08Pasadena CA/USA06 Dec 1964
RD20 km1:00:56Point Mugu CA/USA21 Nov 1982
RDHalf Mara1:06:43San Diego CA/USA25 Aug 1985
RD25 km1:18:48Ventura CA/USA02 Mar 1980
RD30 km1:43:06Culver City CA/USA18 Feb 1979
RDMarathon2:15:15Crowley LA/USA16 Oct 1976
OT10 km28:26.4Walnut CA/USA28 Apr 1984

*I am starting to question some of the official records available at this late date. That 5K mark looked, well, wrong.

Carlsbad 5K at 16:51, I was 51-years-old.

Ran AAU championships 3-mile at Bakersfield. Pre was first, I ran 13:18.

I ran 8:31 indoor 2-mile, got 3rd. Pre was first.

Ran American Record Hour Run 12 miles 811 yards on the track record. Gone now.

But I am betting still near the top.

Tuttle #1, on the left is OGOR Chuck Smead.

Performances

Date FinishedTimeFlagsTypeDistanceSiteRacePrize moneyActions
28 Mar 20048518:12RD5 kmCarlsbad CA/USACarlsbad- Masters
07 Apr 20025517:33RD5 kmCarlsbad CA/USACarlsbad- Masters
29 Mar 19984516:51RD5 kmCarlsbad CA/USACarlsbad
21 May 1995125?45:57aRD12 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
26 Mar 19953517:04RD5 kmAnaheim CA/USADisneyland
09 Dec 19931325:58RD7.4 kmHonolulu HI/USADiamond Head Duet
09 Mar 198652:18:05RDMarathonLos Angeles CA/USALos Angeles$1,000
01 Dec 1985930:21RD10 kmSan Diego CA/USAHeart of San Diego
17 Nov 198521:02:28RD20 kmPoint Mugu CA/USALasse Viren
02 Nov 1985323:26RD8 kmLos Angeles CA/USAFoot Locker Couples Final
25 Aug 198591:06:43aRDHalf MaraSan Diego CA/USAAmerica’s Finest City
14 Aug 1985329:38RD10 kmOxnard CA/USACable Stars
14 Jul 1985239:01RD12.874 kmTiburon CA/USATiburon
19 May 19851037:09aRD12 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
15 Apr 198522:19:11aRDMarathonBoston MA/USABoston
17 Mar 1985329:16RD10 kmTorrance CA/USATom Sullivan
18 Nov 198421:03:58RD20 kmMalibu CA/USALasse Viren Invitational
23 Sep 198421:21:57RD25 kmn/a CA/USAn/a
19 Aug 1984112:20:21aRDMarathonSan Francisco CA/USASan Francisco$250
07 Jul 1984329:54aRD10 kmOxnard CA/USACable Stars
28 Apr 19841428:26.4OT10 kmWalnut CA/USAMount SAC Relays
20 Nov 198321:03:01RD20 kmPoint Mugu CA/USALasse Viren Invitational
12 Nov 19831429:25RD10 kmRancho Palos Verdes CA/USADr Scholl’s Pro Comfort
02 Oct 19832228:56a xRD10 kmLos Angeles CA/USAL A Coliseum
29 May 1983130:51RD10 kmRedondo Beach CA/USALove Your Heart
22 May 1983429:31RD10 kmNewport Beach CA/USAOlympic
15 May 1983937:24aRD12 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
08 May 1983628:52xRD10 kmLos Angeles CA/USARock ‘n Run
01 Apr 1983228:59.3OT10 kmPalo Alto CA/USAKing Games
01 Jan 1983130:59RD10 kmSanta Barbara CA/USAResolution
19 Dec 198212:24:13RDMarathonArroyo Grande CA/USACentral Coast
21 Nov 198211:00:56RD20 kmPoint Mugu CA/USALasse Viren Invitational
24 Jul 198222:18:10RDMarathonIndianapolis IN/USAUS Olympic Commitee Festival
03 Jul 1982145:14RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
13 Jun 1982129:22RD10 kmLos Angeles CA/USACentury City
02 May 1982429:36RD10 kmFresno CA/USAJoyeria Mexico
14 Mar 1982129:30RD10 kmTorrance CA/USATom Sullivan
06 Dec 19811128:34xRD10 kmAnaheim CA/USASub-4 Invitational
20 Sep 1981329:09RD10 kmWalnut Creek CA/USAWalnut Festival
06 Sep 1981128:59RD10 kmNorthridge CA/USAConverse Runoff
26 Jul 198122:16:00RDMarathonSyracuse NY/USAUS Sports Festival
04 Jul 1981118:51RD4 miVisalia CA/USAIndependence Day
31 Jan 1981139:32RD13.68 kmTrinidad CA/USATrinidad Clam Beach
16 Nov 198031:05:33RD20.5 kmMalibu CA/USALasse Viren Invitational
26 Oct 1980482:22:14.0a xRDMarathonNew York NY/USANew York City
12 Oct 1980145:35RD15 kmCanoga Park CA/USAChaminade Reservoir
26 Jul 1980119.462 kmOTOne HourVentura CA/USAn/a
04 Jul 1980146:06RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
15 Jun 1980329:19.9OT10 kmWalnut CA/USAAAU Championships
18 May 1980536:41aRD12 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
05 Apr 1980929:14RD10 kmSan Diego CA/USANike Club Championships
02 Mar 198011:18:48RD25 kmVentura CA/USATAC Championships
01 Jan 1980744:40OT15 kmPalo Alto CA/USARunner’s World Invitational
08 Dec 197932:18:32RDMarathonLas Vegas NV/USALas Vegas Celebrity Sun
16 Sep 19791238:37RD12.875 kmBoston MA/USAHood Freedom Trail Run
21 Jul 1979120.040 kmOTOne HourGoleta CA/USAn/a
03 Mar 197941:18:56RD25 kmVentura CA/USASP AAU Championships
18 Feb 197951:43:06RD30 kmCulver City CA/USASPA AAU Championships
03 Feb 1979140:28RD13.7 kmArcata CA/USATrinidad Beach
31 Dec 1978822:59RD8 kmLos Altos CA/USARunner’s World Midnight
10 Dec 1978192:26:53RDMarathonHonolulu HI/USAHonolulu
19 Nov 197811:01:45XC20 kmMalibu CA/USALasse Viren Finlandia Invitational
01 Oct 1978938:59RD12.875 kmBoston MA/USALabatt’s Freedom Trail
17 Sep 1978229:16RD10 kmBeverly Hills CA/USAPerrier Beverly Hills
05 Mar 197821:02:23RD20 kmHolliston MA/USAAAU Championships
13 Nov 1977122:08:17xRDMarathonAuckland NZLChoysa
02 Oct 1977439:20RD12.87 kmBoston MA/USAn/a
04 Jul 1977146:42RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
15 May 1977438:47RD12.55 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
18 Apr 197772:19:42aRDMarathonBoston MA/USABoston
27 Mar 1977931:33XC9.5 kmSan Vittore-Olana ITACinque Mullini
20 Mar 19774238:52XC12 kmDüsseldorf GERIAAF World Crosscountry Championships
19 Feb 1977242:48.8XC14.4 kmAlameda CA/USAWorld Crosscountry Trials
05 Dec 1976232:26:07RDMarathonFukuoka JPNFukuoka
16 Oct 197612:15:15aRDMarathonCrowley LA/USAAAU Championships
04 Sep 197621:15:14RD15 miCharleston WV/USACharleston Distance Classic
04 Jul 1976145:42RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
28 Feb 1976735:19XC12 kmChepstow WALIAAF Crosscountry Championships
31 Jan 1976137:23XC12 kmBelmont CA/USAWorld Crosscountry Trials
07 Dec 197512:17:27RDMarathonCulver City CA/USAWestern Hemisphere
30 Nov 1975629:01XC10 kmAnnapolis MD/USAAAU Championships
26 Jul 1975120.053 kmOTOne HourGoleta CA/USAn/a
04 Jul 1975145:20RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
21 Jun 1975628:55.4OT10 kmEugene OR/USAAAU Championships
16 Mar 197530XC12 kmRabat MARIAAF Crosscountry Championships
09 Feb 1975347:01XC15 kmGainesville FL/USAAAU Championships
30 Nov 1974730:50XC10 kmBelmont CA/USAAAU Championships
20 Oct 197411:02:16RD20 kmGardner MA/USAAAU Championships
31 Aug 197471:19:27RD15 miCharleston WV/USACharleston Distance Classic
11 Aug 1974343:43a xRD15 kmSydney AUSCity to Surf
22 Jun 1974528:35.2OT10 kmWestwood CA/USAAAU Championships
19 May 1974137:07RD12.55 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
16 Mar 1974119.705 kmOTOne HourHouston TX/USAn/a
03 Feb 1974111:09:21RDHalf MaraCoamo PURSan Blas
17 Nov 197312:29:32aRDMarathonGalveston TX/USAAmerican National
16 Jun 1973813:21.0OT3 miBakersfield CA/USANational AAU Championships
22 Nov 1972229:04XC6 miDenton TX/USAUSTFF Crosscountry Championships
09 Jul 1972492:38:14.6RDMarathonEugene OR/USAUS Olympic Trials
24 Jun 1972651:34xRD10 miSycamore Canyon CA/USAn/a
21 May 1972437:47RD12.55 kmSan Francisco CA/USABay to Breakers
04 Mar 197222:28:24RDMarathonDallas TX/USAWhite Rock
20 Nov 197112:37:22aRDMarathonGalveston TX/USAAmerican National
10 Jul 197122:36:00RDMarathonArcata CA/USARedwood Empire
05 Jul 1971549:37RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
04 Jul 1968150:04RD15 kmSanta Barbara CA/USASemana Nautica
14 Jul 19671417.407 kmOTOne HourCulver City CA/USANational Junior AAU Championship
12 Nov 1966520:11XC4 miWheaton IL/USANCAA College Division Championship
05 Mar 1966146:15RD13.7 kmTrinidad CA/USAClam Beach Run
06 Dec 19642059:08RD10 miPasadena CA/USARose Bowl Handicap

Database updated with data from 08 Oct 2023 23:54:38.

Gary Tuttle was playing basketball and baseball in high school until Jim Hunt asked him to join the cross-country team.  He followed Jim Hunt to Humboldt State University and Gary continued to improve his running skills.  In 1968 and 1969 he won the Division II National Championship in the steeplechase. 

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1 comments on “Original Gangsters Of Running (Gary Tuttle)”
  1. JDW says:
    October 13, 2023 at 6:32 pm

    Bill Rodgers is a Gary Tuttle fan.
    “A terrific article, Jack, once again. I really loved reading about Gary Tuttle. I did not know about many of his accomplishments. For example, seventh place at World Cross-Country. Or did you know he ran a 4:03 mile? I had no idea.
    I knew he was really really tough at 20K half marathon but -most important – I’m forever indebted to him for loaning me a pair of spikes at the World Cross-Countrys in ’75, where I was able to win the bronze medal.
    But what I remember about Gary is how friendly he was. He was very mellow guy and very friendly.
    Good going on your journalism, Jack. Someone’s got to do it. – Bill
    please pass on my greetings to Gary.”

    Reply

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