Greatest American Distance Runners of All-Time
#7
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat, who got his start running in his native Kenya, may be the most patriotic American runner you've ever met. "I just wanted to raise my family here, live here, work here and, you know, just be one of the American people...I love this country."
And indeed, no American citizen has been faster than Lagat in the past 7 years than Lagat. He owns commanding American records in the indoor mile, and both indoors and outdoors in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m. (A 1500m he ran while a dual-citizen still stands as a Kenyan national record, even in that speedy African land.)
His success at nearly every competition has been well-documented: the Millrose Games, the World Championships, the Continental Cup, the NCAAs. While competing as a Kenyan in 2000 and 2004, Lagat won bronze and silver Olympic medals, respectively.
Yet at 37, while this 3-time Olympian has proved himself as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all-time, he doesn't show signs of being done. "In the Olympics, I don't have a gold medal," Lagat said [in a recent LA Times interview]. "When I wake up every day, I know this is what I want."
When ranking the greatest distance runners of all time, most individuals polled will think of those in the more "mainstream" races and distances: Olympians, the 5K, 10K, marathon, etc. Ultra-running--while still crazy--has seen an uptick in participation in recent years. However, our #7 American female runner of all-time was an ultra-runner--before ultras were "cool."
Ann Trason didn't run in college, but she was very much a runner. She entered her first ultra-race--a 50-miler--before she had even won a marathon; she won and set a course record. Over the course of her career, she has set an incredible 20 world records in ultra-long distances.
What has she done? Only won the Western States 100--a race many consider to be the hardest ultra-marathon in the United States--a record 14 times, setting the women's course record in the process. Not only that, but in 1996 and '97, she completed perhaps the most impressive ultra ultra-distance feat in the world: back-to-back wins at the Western States 100 and Comrades Marathon in South Africa, just 12 days apart.
And yet, she wasn't without her imperfections, either: illness and injury has cut more than a few of her races short, and at 52, she is dealing with the same injuries that more "mortal" runners have dealt with for decades. But it is her flaws that make Trason more real, and more accessible, to American runners. She is a role model--an American woman pushing the envelope, exploring and discovering the bounds of human performance and running right past them.
#7
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat, who got his start running in his native Kenya, may be the most patriotic American runner you've ever met. "I just wanted to raise my family here, live here, work here and, you know, just be one of the American people...I love this country."
And indeed, no American citizen has been faster than Lagat in the past 7 years than Lagat. He owns commanding American records in the indoor mile, and both indoors and outdoors in the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m. (A 1500m he ran while a dual-citizen still stands as a Kenyan national record, even in that speedy African land.)
His success at nearly every competition has been well-documented: the Millrose Games, the World Championships, the Continental Cup, the NCAAs. While competing as a Kenyan in 2000 and 2004, Lagat won bronze and silver Olympic medals, respectively.
Yet at 37, while this 3-time Olympian has proved himself as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all-time, he doesn't show signs of being done. "In the Olympics, I don't have a gold medal," Lagat said [in a recent LA Times interview]. "When I wake up every day, I know this is what I want."
Even today--with an incredible fourth Olympic
Games in his sights--Bernard Lagat is just as lethal on the track as he was
nearly a decade ago. And we are looking forward to watching him break more
records and attain his elusive gold this summer.
Ann Trason
When ranking the greatest distance runners of all time, most individuals polled will think of those in the more "mainstream" races and distances: Olympians, the 5K, 10K, marathon, etc. Ultra-running--while still crazy--has seen an uptick in participation in recent years. However, our #7 American female runner of all-time was an ultra-runner--before ultras were "cool."
Ann Trason didn't run in college, but she was very much a runner. She entered her first ultra-race--a 50-miler--before she had even won a marathon; she won and set a course record. Over the course of her career, she has set an incredible 20 world records in ultra-long distances.
What has she done? Only won the Western States 100--a race many consider to be the hardest ultra-marathon in the United States--a record 14 times, setting the women's course record in the process. Not only that, but in 1996 and '97, she completed perhaps the most impressive ultra ultra-distance feat in the world: back-to-back wins at the Western States 100 and Comrades Marathon in South Africa, just 12 days apart.
And yet, she wasn't without her imperfections, either: illness and injury has cut more than a few of her races short, and at 52, she is dealing with the same injuries that more "mortal" runners have dealt with for decades. But it is her flaws that make Trason more real, and more accessible, to American runners. She is a role model--an American woman pushing the envelope, exploring and discovering the bounds of human performance and running right past them.
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