HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!

Now, this is getting a bit redundant.

Last Friday evening, he did it again!

85-year old Canadian, Ed Whitlock, arguably the world's greatest athlete, did what he does best: set a world record.

At the Cambridge Classic Mile, held annually in Cambridge, Ontario, Whitlock obliterated the previous mile record for men aged 85 or over, by turning in a time of 7:18. The previous record was 8:04.07 held by Germany’s Josef Galia, set in 1985.

A bit ho-hum for Whitlock.

Did I mention that, back on April 24, at the Waterloo Half Marathon, Whitlock ran a time of 1:50:47, breaking the previous half marathon age group record by nine minutes?

Ed Whitlock is the first person over 70 to have broken three hours in the marathon when he ran 2:59:10 in 2003. Since turning 70, he has broken the three-hour barrier multiple times including a 2:54:48, at age 73. He holds age group records from the 1,500 meters to the marathon.

Ed Whitlock is remarkable.

What's more, having had the privilege of meeting him at Berwick's Run for the Diamonds last November, he is a very humble, gracious man. It was an honor be in his company.

Soon after meeting him at Berwick, I wrote a blog about it. The next day I received an email from Ed, thanking me for the kind words.

Congratulations to Ed Whitlock, and here's hoping he continues to rewrite the record books for many, many years to come.

HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!

The world's greatest athlete has done it again.


On Sunday, at the Waterloo, Ontario Half Marathon, Canadian phenom, 85-year old Ed Whitlock, destroyed another world record. Whitlock crushed the 13.1 mile course in 1:50:47, that's an 8:27 per mile pace, destroying the previous age group record for 85-year olds by 9:17


Currently, and this number is certain to rise, as Ed Whitlock relishes the fact that he's a year older with another age group to dominate, he holds more than 80 age group world records at distances from 1500 meters to the marathon.


Last Thanksgiving Day, at Berwick's Run for the Diamonds, I had the honor of meeting Ed Whitlock. The man ranks as one of the most gracious individuals I have ever met. We discussed training, injuries, and our love of running.


In November I wrote a blog about my thrill of meeting this living legend.


The next day I received an email from Mr. Whitlock thanking me for writing about him.


The way I see it, Ed Whitlock has many more records to break and several more age groups to dominate.

IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS

In this world of overpaid, egotistical athletes, playing their professional sports, shamelessly hawking any product to make a buck, then bragging about their accomplishments, yesterday, in Berwick, Pennsylvania, at the 106th running of the Run for the Diamonds, I had the honor for being in the presence of greatness.

It was my privilege to meet, and speak with 83-year old Ed Whitlock,

In my estimation, Ed Whitlock is the greatest living athlete on the planet.

So, in an effort to be completely accurate, I'll list Ed's accomplishments, as listed on his Wikipedia page.

" In his 60s after retiring he started to concentrate on road racing and latterly the objective of becoming the first man over 70 to run a marathon in less than three hours. After an initial attempt at age 70, injury prevented another attempt until age 72 when in 2003 he completed the marathon 2:59:10. In the following year, he lowered the record to 2:54:49 and in 2005 ran 2:58:40 at age 74, to date (2013) the oldest man to run under three hours for a marathon.
In 2006 he set the world record for the 75 to 79 age group with a time of 3:08:35 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon,^[2] and in the Rotterdam Marathon on April 15, 2007, Whitlock lowered that mark to 3:04:54 on a day when the marathon was stopped after three and a half hours because of high temperature.
On September 26, 2010, Whitlock ran the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon in 1:34:23.4.^[3]
After turning 80, Whitlock improved the marathon world record for his age category by almost 15 minutes to 3:25:43 at the 2011 Rotterdam Marathon on April 10, 2011.^[4] He then further improved on his age category world record at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 16, 2011, lowering the record to 3:15:54.^[5]
At age 81, on Sunday, September 16, 2012, wearing bib number 1, Whitlock broke the Canadian and unofficial world half-marathon record at his hometown inaugural race, the Milton Half-Marathon, running 1:38:59.^[6] In 2013, he lowered the record to 1:38:11 on the same course.
Whitlock also competes on the track, where as of 2012 he holds 15 world age group records ranging in distance from 1500 metres to 10,000 m and age groups 65+, 70+, 75+ and 80+, as well as the three age group marathon records 70+, 75+ and 80+.^[7]"


That's right folks, a 3:15 marathon--at age 80!

I have never met a more gracious, humble man. Ed Whitlock is a great athlete and competitor, but he is an even greater individual, He told me he can't wait to turn 85 so he can assault more age-group records.  Even more than the delicious turkey, my meeting Ed Whitlock was the highlight of my Thanksgiving Day.

I just hope some of his talent, dedication, and determination rubs off!