Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time. – John C. Maxwell
On Nov 12, 2024, at 10:08 AM, Stephen DeBoer wrote:
Greetings fellow high mileage running enthusiasts:
I am going to make an effort to compile that 100K list I mentioned doing last winter. I have come up with about 250 names so far. Thanks for your assistance. I’ll add Frank Shorter and Joan Samuelson to the list and say >150,000 for them for now, unless someone can contact them for more specific totals.
I stopped counting years ago. Many years – my bad – I didn’t keep a journal. Don’t make the mistake I made, boys and girls. Need to be more specific, I imagine.
Most I ever ran in a week was 117 miles. At seven thousand feet above sea level, I like to add. A different year I averaged almost 85 miles weekly. “I put fewer miles on my car,” my little brother exclaimed.
Do you think you run a lot? Believe you laid down hellacious mileage back in the day and forgot to stop? Stephen DeBoer asked me to ask you that question – who else has run 100,000 miles?
Here is Steve’s list so far. I think you will see many familiar names.
In Search of Distance Runners Who Have Covered Over 100,000 Miles. Who Else Has Run That Far?
There are likely hundreds of individuals throughout the world who have surpassed 100,000 running miles. This is an attempt to gather as many of them as possible in one location. Steve has been tracking those who have running streaks for over fifteen years. Of course, he’s have found many others on Amby Burfoot’s 100K Lifetime Miles website.
On the list below, [Steve] lists miles as of date recorded, along with the states in which they have traversed the tundra.
An S in front of their name, means they have had at least one running streak lasting 365 days or longer, running a minimum of one mile.
Darryl Beardall CA (died 11/6/23, age 87 yrs. 0 mo.) 294,738
S Carolyn Mather (F) FL, GA
Dallas Robertson FL, MA, VA, IA (died 10/24/21, age 65 yrs. 3 mo.) 254,442
S Herbert Fred TX (died 12/29/18, age 89 yrs. 6 mo.) 253,010
S Dave Dial TX NM
I began keeping a log at age 16 and know I have 223,000+. I generally total my miles at the year’s end for the exact number.
S Craig Davidson MN, AZ
S Roger Urbancsik CA
S Paul Ladniak PA, TN, WA
Don Ritchie SCO (died 6/16/18, age 73 yrs. 11 mo.) 208,100
S Don Slusser PA
S Jon Sutherland CA, UT
Charles W Hart 1866-1954 ENG >200,000
Edison Eskeets TX NM >200,000
“In September Edison said he had 304,500 and counts from when he was 5 and herding sheep…”
Gordon Pirie (1931-1991) ENG, NZEA >200,000 ( some contemporaries think closer to 150,000)
Bob Wagner b. 1945 MN >200,000
Earle Linwood Dilks PA (died 11/8/1982, age 88 yrs. 1 mo.) 195,855
Bill Rodgers CT, MA
Hello, Jack! I believe I’m at about 190,000. I was at 178,000, not counting high school and college around the time of the pandemic, maybe three years ago. I’m doing about 25 miles a week so maybe is that’s close to 1500 miles a year.
Suzanne Ray (F) MN, AK, OR
S Bruce Mortenson MN, OR
S Steve DeBoer MN, SD, NC, Ecuador
S Jim Pearson WA
‘Whatever Steve has + 1040.’
S Reno Stirrat NJ, MA 183,496 (as of 12/11/2024)
S Eric Morse VT
Jerry Heaps MN, ID
S George Brown VA (died 7/27/2024, age 72 yrs. 1 months.)
S Michael Georgi HI
S Simon Laporte (CAN)
S Richard Westbrook FL, GA
S Steve Morrow SD, MN
Janet Cain b. 1949 OH, Ca >175,000 Apr 2019
Bill Hagman (7-1-43) NJ 173,160 2008
Dick Beardsley MN, TX
Paul Driskill d. 24 Dec 2010, age 73 CO >170,000 (ran daily 1972-2007; hit by car)
S Scott Ludwig FL, GA
Joe Sarver (1-26/1958) OH, PA 165,946 end 2021 (2066 in 2021)
Stefan Fekner b. 6/6/52 Alberta, CA 165,000 end 2021 email
S Bob Ovodock DC, PA, NJ
S Bob Hensley CT, OR, FL
S Ron Hill ENG (died 5/24/2021, age 82 yrs. 8 mo.) 162,400
Arthur Newton (1883-1959) ENG >160,000 if ran 500/month for 10 yrs aft 1935 (102,735)
Bill Emmerton (1920-2010) AUSTRAL, AZ >160,000 if ran 30,000 after 1978 (130,000 est then)
Harry Nolan b. 1948 NE, NJ 160,000 (2011) 145,000 Jan 2021
Gary Tuttle (10-12-47) CA 160,000 173,500 end 2020
Bill Scobey (3-13-45) CA 160,000 end 2012 none since
S Dave Dunham NH, MA
S Mark Covert CA 159,623
S Barbara Elia (F) IL, CA 158,300
Ken Baily (1911-1993) ENG 157,275 by 1975 (Guinness Book of World Records)
S Stuart Calderwood CA, OH, NY 155,250 end 2023
S Dave McGillivray MA 155,000 2024
S Craig Snapp CA
For simplicity’s sake, think forty miles weekly for a half century. Or you could do five miles daily – every single day – and sixty years.
S Matthew Savage MI
Price b Oct 1954 VA 153,600 end 2020
Robert Chasen b. Sep 1954 MA 152,000 Apr 2021; 125,000 2018
Frank Bozanich b. May 1944 WA, NV 152,000 Sep 2012
Doug Kurtis b. 1952 MI, NC >150,000 2020
Phil Ryan b. Oct 1942 NY, MA 151,000 end 2022
S Jim Hage MD, MA
Steve Smythe (3/18/1958) London, ENG 150,000 end 2019
Terry Stanley b. Sep 1952 PA 150,000 est. 2011
Frank Shorter (10-31-1947) CO, FL 150,000 2020 est
Joan Samuelson (F) ME 150,000 2020 est
S John Naslund MN
S Robert Raven Kraft FL
S Barry Abrahams NE
S Paul Case MN
Mike Beeman (5/7/56) GA, MA, HN 147,121 (11/3/24 podcast with Dick Beardsley)
Hayden Smith (1948) AZ 124,300 est.145,000 end 2020
Mary Etta Blanchard F b. 1963 CA 145,000 2019
S Bill Moreland NJ
Martin Job Switz 142,720 end Oct 2024
S Ken Young IL, CO, GA, AZ, CA (died 2/3/18, age 76 yrs. 2 mo.) 143,035
S Gary Jones WA, MT 142,000 end 2023
Paul Noreen d. 26 Nov 2013 age 78 MN 142,000
S Ted Corbitt NY (d. 12/12/07, age 88 yrs. 10 mo.) 140,050
Dave Walters b. 1955 IL 140,000 end 2019
Woody Herrell b. Jul 1947 NC, MS 140,000 est end 2018
Jay Birmingham b. 1945 OH, FL 140,000 2020.
Miles run from April 1958 through today (Dec 9, 2024)–151,921. Power-walking miles are now included, but I have never counted recovery walks nor step counts on any device.
I think power walking miles – definitely – should count. Counting steps myself these days. Sunday is the traditional long distance shuffle, of course.
S Bill Shires NC
S Randy Wiinanen MN
S Sherry Case (F)MN
S Björn Suneson (SWE)
S Steve Kohorst NJ, MN 134,000 end 2022
S Alex Galbraith TX
S Jerry Caine CA
S Larry Baldasari NJ 133,500
Gary Cohen (10-1-1957) FL 133,000 12/2024
S Joel Pasternack NJ
S Al Gilman MN
S Timothy Masters MI
Michael Anderson b. 1958 OH, PA, GA 131,000 end 2018
Ron Wayne
My lifetime mileage is in excess of 131,000. The only streak I have is eating a loaf of toast a day for five years.
Dennis Marsella b. 1951 FL >130,000 2020 (Coatman)
Rich Fargo b. 1959 CT >130,000 2020
Paul Long Aug 1958 OH 130,000 10/1/20
Mike Setter b. 1955 MN 130,000 end 2022 (no longer runs)
S Mike Holsteen ND, TX, SC, MO 129,500
S Barbara Latta (F) NC, FL
S Dan Carlson MN
S John Liepa IA
Danny Paul (11-20-1953) ME 129,000 2009
Jerry Kotsovos b. May 1946 OR, WA 128,000 end 2019
S Jeff Barros TX
Kelly Mortenson b. 1962 MN 125,593 12/31/2023 (1463 in 2023)
S William Rogers NY
S Charles Hodge OR
S Woody Woodburn CA
S Bruce Dern CA 125,000
S Chester Tumidajewicz NY 125,000
Tom Fleming (7-23-1951 to 2017) NJ 124,336 (end 2009, then stopped tracking)
Jimmy Igohe (NJ) 125,000 (2011)
Ernie Rivas b. Apr 1950 CA 124,000 Nov 2012
Joe Caruso b. Jul 1953 MI, OH 124,000 Mar 2016
S Matthew Mace MD
S Bob Ray MD 122,000
S Doug Suker MN
Tom Perri b. 1961 MN 121,128 12/31/23
Bob P Congdon (7-17-1945) NY 120,500 2010
Randi Potash F b. Jan 1960 MA 120,000 end 2022
John Bryant b. Apr 1944 Wimbledon, ENG 120,000 Feb 2010
Joanna Harper F b. 1957 OR (M till 2005) 120,000 2019
S Stephen Taylor IA
S Lauren Siegel (F) PA
S Dink Taylor AL
S Mark Courtney PA
S Tammy Slusser PA
Scott Clark (2-17-1966) NH 118,000 Feb 2009
Ron Johnson b. 1947 MN, FL, DC, AR 118,000 Jan 2021
Bruce Fordyce b. Dec 1955 South AFR 117,000 Mar 2017 (est 120,000 end 2018)
Budd Coates b. 1957 PA 117,000 end 2018
Rick Kleyman d. 16 Mar 2021 age 81 MN 117,000
Kevin O’Grady b. Dec 1958 OH 116,000 Dec 2023
Herb Townsend b. Jul 1938 PA, FL 116,000 Dec 2021
S Jim Behr NY, FL 116,000 end 2022
S Amby Burfoot CT
S Mike Seaman MN
S Rich Holmes NC
Dan Larson (7-11-1951) CT, NY 115,000 2009 (streak of 2/day for 15 yrs 1970s-80s) 135,000 by 2019 if 2000/yr after 2009
Phil Camp b. 1947 CA ~115,000 Mar 2019
Just checked my Garmin Connect app and it goes all the way back to January 25, 2018! I’ve been averaging 355 miles a year since posting that last total, so I’ve put in around 1650 miles since March 2019. My knees are a bit tired but I’ll try to stay at it as long as I can. I’m running the Pensacola Double Bridge 15k for a 3rd time on February 1st. I’m in the 75 and over so there’s not much competition in that group!
Jeff Foster b. Jul 1956 PA, MT, WY 115,000 end 2021 about me page
S Mike Fanelli CA (died 11/26/23, age 67 yrs 6 mo.) 115,000
S Steve Gathje MN, KS 114,901
S Bill Stark MD, MO
S Brad Kautz WI, MN, NM
S William Benton MI
S Harvey Simon MA 113,611
S Doug Holland AZ 113,400
S Bruce Sherman OH
S John Litzenberg III. CA
Roy Pirrung b. Jul 1948 WI 112,500 est end 2021
S Jeff Gould MA
S Bill Robertson MA
Tim Smith b. Apr 1948 CT 112,000 Jul 2018
Dave Hoch (NJ) 112,000
S Al Colonna NY
S Kenneth Roth CA
S Terrell Worley AR, CA
S Fred Murolo CT
S Rick Rayman CAN
S Jack Ankrum MN
S Ron Jackson WA 110,500
Shawn Chillag b. 1949 SC, WV >110,000 Feb 2021
Jimmy Green 1932-2024 MA, CA, DC 110,000 Apr 2019
Mark Buciak (5-1-1959) IL 110,000 2009
Walter Murphy (11-30-1953) MA 110,000 2009
Mark Bauman (3-11-1950) MI 110,000 2009
Billy Webster b. Nov 1957 SC 110,000 Feb 2017
S Frank Clarke RSA 110,000
S Norm Spitzig OH, FL
S George Hancock PA
S John King MN, IL, NJ, FL
Hal Goforth b. 1945 FL, CA 109,500 Mar 2021
S Syl Pascale CA 109,438
S Camille Herron AZ
Rich Sands b. Nov 1951 CO 109,000 end 2016
Rick Recker b. 19 Feb 2022, age 77 MN ~109,000
Kerry Louks b. 10-13-1949 MN 108,750 end 2019
Denton Childs b. Apr 1950 CA, MO, AR 108,000 Jun 2018
John Medinger b. Jan 1951 CA 108,000 bet 2017-2019
S Bill Leibfritz MI
S Hugh Biggin PA
S Grant Woodman MI
Doug Schmenk b. Dec 1950 CA 106,000 end 2016
Ray Lapinski b. Jun 1953 CT 106,000 early 2017
S Gary Rust CA
S Jim Bates VA, SKOR
S Bill Shreffler. IL< CO, CA, NY, MI, MO, TN
Jonathan Such b. Feb 1948 UK, South AFR 105,000 end 2016
Neil Rosen b. 1953 PA, AZ 105,000 2020
Sam Cox b. 1959 NC, SC, TX, Germany, OR >105,000 Feb 2021
Steve Quick b. 1962 MN 105,000 end 2024
S Andy Ferrara NY, TX
S Mark Bowman b. Nov 1954 IL
S Wayne Roberts MI
S John Chandler WI
S Rick Porter. GA
S Mike Schlater b. Jan 1967 OH, MI, TX, MEX 103,992 end 2023
Rick Woidt b. May 1954 NY 104,000 Aug 2011
Dominic Croft b. 1966 ENG 104,000 2022
George Hirsch b. 1934 NY, NJ 104,000 Jun 2019
S Roger Nelson MN, CO, TX
Tom Abbott b. 6-6-55 PA 103,000 2009
Randy Burt b. Nov 1947 IL 103,000 Jun 2022
Mel Edwards b. 2 Dec 1942 – d. 8 Nov 2019 Scotland 103,000 Sep 2011
John Zupanc b. Feb 1953 WI 103,000 Jan 2017
S Thad Childs Jr GA
S Dennis Durbin CA
S Matthew Reinders MN
George Aitken b. Oct 1952 Ontario, CAN 102,000 Jun 2015
Jeff Riddle b. Mar 1958 KY, IL 102,000 Mar 2018
Randy Jarzynka b. 1958 NE 100,200 Feb 2022
Reggie Moore b. Aug 1958 IL, VA 101,000 Feb 2019
S Frank Russo OH
Richard J Carling (12-6-1937 to 4-30-2024) UT 100,000 Jan 2009
Craig Harms FL, OH 100,000 at age 44
Four Times (4X) Around The Circumference Of The Earth (24,901.461 Miles) Will Not Quite Get You There.
Barbara Pearce b. 1954 CT 100,000 Aug 2023
Patrick Albregts b. Oct 1958 AZ, WI 100,000 Mar 2023
W F Newhall III b. Apr 1958 MA 100,000 Dec 2022
Dave Foley b. Apr 1947 MI 100,000 Oct 2022
Michael Tobin b. Mar 1957 NY 100,000 May 2022
S Diana Nelson (F) IL d. 2/12/22, age 75 yrs. 5 mo. 100,000
S Deb Dilling (F) MN, TX
S Mark Misch CO
S Brian Casey NJ
Greg Brown b. 1960 MN, VA 100,000 Mar 2021
Jonathan Lyau b. 1964 HI 100,000 Sep 2020
Gerry Chester b. Oct 1951 CT 100,000 May 2020
Thomas Bennett b. 1957 ME 100,000 end 2019
John Treleaven b. Mar 1952 NC 100,000 Oct 2018
Kim Bellard b. Aug 1955 OH 100,000 Apr 2018
Bob Dalton b. Jun 1953 GA, NY 100,000 Oct 2017
Kevin Follett b. Mar 1961 CO 100,000 Dec 2017
Gary Green b. Jul 1952 KY 100,000 Jul 2017 (poss streak runner)
John McCabe b. Jun 1955 IL, MI 100,000 Dec 2016
Jimmy Gilbert b. Jan 1943 KY, OK, TX 100,000 Jan 2016
Jim Sapp b. Dec 1949 OH, OR 100,000 Nov 2015
Dave Dooley b. Feb 1947 CO 100,000 Sep 2015
Sue O’Malley F b. Jul 1960 PA, NY, FL 100,000 Mar 2014
Doug Kewley b. Jun 1950 UK, CT, Australia 100,000 Mar 2014
Bob Lewis b. Jul 1955 MA 100,000 Feb 2013
Gary Allen b. Jan 1957 ME > 107,000 2024
Mike O’Hara b. 1913 NY >100,000 RRC NY Assoc newsletter Sp 77
Scott Douglas b. Jun 1964 MD, ME 100,000 end 2011
Dave Bendy b. Jul 1943 Northumberland, ENG 100,000 October 2010
Don Kardong b. 1948 CO, CA, WA 100,000 end 2019
“I had a huge gap in recording my running, so 100,000 is only an estimate.”
Billy Shea. b. 1956 CT, CA 100,000 2019
Vincent Chiappetta b. 1933 NY 100,000 2019
Phil Stewart b. 1950 DC 100,000 2019
Harry McCalla b. 1942 CA 100,000 Mar 2019
Benji Durden b. 1951 CO >
“I have no solid estimate, but I think it is north of 150,000.”
Steve Kearney b. 1949 IN >100,000 2020
Actually born in 1948 in IL, but most of miles have been in IN. We can now say >108,000!
James Dill b. 1958 NC, VA >100,000 2020 (est119,000 but walk last 10 yrs)
Paul Fetscher b. 1945 NY >100,000 many years ago (2020 quote)
Kitty Consolo b. 1957 OH, NC 99,320 end 2023 30 mph
Kevin Boyle b. 1964 NY, DC, HI 95,000 mid 2022, 97,700 end 2023 set 99,500 end 24
Richard Houston b. 1957 MA 100,000 end 2022
Jacqueline Hansen
I do not have an accurate count. Some of my 40 years of journals had annual totals, when I was properly training on a regular basis, but I stopped counting when I stopped competing.
A conservative estimate totaled over 100K a long time ago. But for so many years, I did cross training and as you know it’s all cross training now, and no running at all.
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t win any running streak.
Must admit, I am shocked – shocked, I tell you – not to see Gerry Lindgren’s name. Whatever number he tells me will be crazy whatever the number is. He allegedly alleged he was doing two hundred miles weekly.
In high school.
I asked around. I did some sleuthing on my own. Asked Sue Henderson, who started running in 1967 and was out trotting this afternoon.
We have a rough estimate for each of us. Is that good enough? [Husband] Matt is well over 100,000 for sure, which includes six 4,000 mile years. I’m pretty close to or over 100,000 … I think I’m over but I’m not sure.
We ran a lot because we loved to run. In those days you just ran every day, barely tapered for a 15K race on Saturday but followed by a twenty-mile ‘easy’ day on Sunday. Sometimes a race on Saturday AND Sunday. A ridiculous way to run but it was so fun. 😬 Matt for sure over 100K, me close one way or the other. We have running logs for many of our years, then began to slack off somewhat … so depressing to see mileage and race times start to slow down.
I continued to run a lot while working those sixteen years for adidas. Hard 8-milers on my lunch hour with a few of the guys there. One epic day with Dave Murphy – 2:12 marathoner – … a double. I had run a seven-miler alone on my lunch hour when adidas was still in the Beaverton area. There was a lot of fun running from there. Late that afternoon Dave asked me if I wanted to go for a run after work. I told him i was pretty hammered from my noon run. He talked me into it anyway, so I took him on my favorite rolling hills eight-miler. So fun, and I felt great. Clearly, he was a pleasure to run with.
My money is on Camille Herron for the win eventually.
Billy is being chased by a girl and if he runs ten miles daily every day for a year, he still won’t move up the list.
My God, the miles these people have run.
And if you think you are one of them, please contact stephen.william.deboer@gmail.com. If you are not sure, see if you can offer up some corroborating evidence.
If your receipts are sketchy, feel free to mention my name.
Vouching right now for the Hendersons.