Thanksgiving morning produced ideal weather for the 106th edition of Berwick’s Run for the Diamonds.
More than 1,400 runners from all over the United States, as well as the contingent of about 25 runners from Canada who annually attend the race, lined up for one of the oldest footraces in America.
Local running star and two-time winner of the Schuylkill County Triple Crown of Running, Samantha Snukis placed second in the race, earning a coveted diamond necklace.
Perhaps the most famous person at Berwick was a slight, unassuming man who, due to an injury, did not participate in this year’s race.
In this world of overpaid, egotistical athletes, playing their professional sports, shamelessly hawking any product to make a buck, then bragging about their accomplishments, I had the honor for being in the presence of true greatness.
It was my privilege to meet and speak with 83-year-old Ed Whitlock,
In my estimation, he is the greatest living athlete on the planet.
Whitlock, a transplanted Canadian, grew up in England, where he distinguished himself as an accomplished runner in high school and college. A devastating injury caused him to defer his running career for a number of years.
In fact, when he was in his late 60s, Whitlock set an unusual goal of attempting to become the first person 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, the oldest man to run under three hours for a marathon. His record stands to this day.
In 2006 he set the world record for the 75-79 age group with a time of 3:08:35 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. 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 temperatures.
Having demolished marathon world records throughout his 70s, Whitlock turned his attention to smashing additional records in his 80s.
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. Later that year he further improved on his age category world record at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, lowering the record to 3:15:54.
That’s right, a 3:15 marathon — at age 80! That’s an average pace of 7:28 a mile, for 26 miles.
I have never met a more gracious, humble man. 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, meeting Ed Whitlock was the highlight of my Thanksgiving Day.
I just hope some of his talent, dedication and determination rubs off!
(Muldowney is an avid runner and local author)