Ambrose Burfoot
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Joel Burfoot (born August 19, 1946) is an American
marathoner, whose peak competitive years came in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was the winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon
. After retiring from competition, he became a running journalist and author. Burfoot was the top editor (editor-in-chief) at Runner’s World for many years and both writes for Runner’s World and serves as editor-at-large.
, where he started running at Fitch Senior High School
. His high school coach, John J. Kelley
(The "Younger") was the 1957 Boston Marathon
winner and two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner (1956 and 1960 Olympics,) and his influence led Burfoot to take up the marathon while still a collegian. In his senior year at Wesleyan University
, where Burfoot was the roommate and teammate of Bill Rodgers
, Burfoot won the Boston Marathon, but an injury caused by running a steeplechase
race in a collegiate track meet later that spring prevented him from being fully prepared for that year's Olympic Trials marathon.
Burfoot's influence on Rodgers, who later went on to win the Boston Marathon four times, provided a link in a four-athlete Boston tradition starting with John A. Kelley (The "Elder") and continuing through John J. Kelley and Burfoot to Rodgers.
In the Fukuoka Marathon
in Japan
in December 1968, Burfoot ran a personal best time of 2:14:28.8, which was only one second from the American
marathon record at the time.
At his peak, Burfoot's training often included high mileage weeks of 100-140 miles done at a relatively slow pace
. Burfoot was a vegetarian during his peak training years although this lifestyle had less to do with training than with what he felt was an ethical course of action.
As of 2008, Burfoot had run the Manchester Road Race
46 times in a row, winning it nine times. Burfoot also continues to run the Boston Marathon at five-year intervals, marking his 1968 win.
as East Coast editor for Anderson's publication, Runner's World
magazine. In 1985, when Runner's World was bought by Rodale Press
and moved from Mountain View
, California
, to Emmaus, Pennsylvania
, he was named the executive editor.
In 1992, Runner's World published Burfoot's article, "White Men Can't Run," about the dominance of African athletes and athletes of African descent in professional athletics
. The article was later republished in The Best American Sports Writing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
marathoner, whose peak competitive years came in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was the winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
. After retiring from competition, he became a running journalist and author. Burfoot was the top editor (editor-in-chief) at Runner’s World for many years and both writes for Runner’s World and serves as editor-at-large.
Competition
Amby Burfoot grew up in Groton, ConnecticutGroton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, where he started running at Fitch Senior High School
Fitch Senior High School
Robert E. Fitch Senior High School is a public high school located in Groton, Connecticut.The school has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program since the 2004-2005 school year. By the 2006-2007 school year, 75 percent of students eligible for the diploma received it. The school...
. His high school coach, John J. Kelley
John J. Kelley
John Joseph Kelley was the winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon and the marathon at the 1959 Pan American Games and a member of two United States Olympic Marathon teams. He was often dubbed John "The Younger" to avoid confusion with Johnny "The Elder" Kelley, the winner of the 1935 and 1945 Boston...
(The "Younger") was the 1957 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
winner and two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner (1956 and 1960 Olympics,) and his influence led Burfoot to take up the marathon while still a collegian. In his senior year at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where Burfoot was the roommate and teammate of Bill Rodgers
Bill Rodgers (athlete)
William "Bill" Henry Rodgers is an American runner and former American record holder in the marathon who is best known for his victories in the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon in the late 1970s...
, Burfoot won the Boston Marathon, but an injury caused by running a steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
race in a collegiate track meet later that spring prevented him from being fully prepared for that year's Olympic Trials marathon.
Burfoot's influence on Rodgers, who later went on to win the Boston Marathon four times, provided a link in a four-athlete Boston tradition starting with John A. Kelley (The "Elder") and continuing through John J. Kelley and Burfoot to Rodgers.
In the Fukuoka Marathon
Fukuoka Marathon
The , held in Fukuoka, Japan, is an international men's marathon race established in 1947. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December.The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.-Men's winners:Winners of the...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in December 1968, Burfoot ran a personal best time of 2:14:28.8, which was only one second from the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
marathon record at the time.
At his peak, Burfoot's training often included high mileage weeks of 100-140 miles done at a relatively slow pace
Long Slow Distance
Long slow distance is a form of aerobic endurance training in running and cycling. Physiological adaptations to LSD training include improved cardiovascular function, improved thermoregulatory function, improved mitochondrial energy production, increased oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle, and...
. Burfoot was a vegetarian during his peak training years although this lifestyle had less to do with training than with what he felt was an ethical course of action.
As of 2008, Burfoot had run the Manchester Road Race
Manchester Road Race
The Manchester Road Race is a 4.748 mile race held annually on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester, Connecticut. Race proceeds are donated each year to Muscular Dystrophy research and about 18 other local charities. Beginning promptly at 10:00am every Thanksgiving Morning, the race attracts athletes of...
46 times in a row, winning it nine times. Burfoot also continues to run the Boston Marathon at five-year intervals, marking his 1968 win.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing the 1968 Boston Marathon Boston MarathonThe Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...Boston, United States 1st 2:22:17
Journalism
In 1978, Burfoot joined Bob AndersonBob Anderson (runner)
Bob Anderson is an American runner, photographer, publisher and film producer. He is the founder of Runner's World magazine. A desire to find information about running and racing led him to a career in magazine and book publishing for more than twenty years...
as East Coast editor for Anderson's publication, Runner's World
Runner's World
Runner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
magazine. In 1985, when Runner's World was bought by Rodale Press
Rodale Press
Rodale, Inc., is an American publisher of health and wellness magazines, books, and digital properties. Rodale is headquartered in Emmaus, Pennsylvania and also maintains a satellite office in New York City, on Third Avenue....
and moved from Mountain View
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Emmaus is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located five miles southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Emmaus was 11,313 at the 2000 census...
, he was named the executive editor.
In 1992, Runner's World published Burfoot's article, "White Men Can't Run," about the dominance of African athletes and athletes of African descent in professional athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
. The article was later republished in The Best American Sports Writing.
Books
- Burfoot, Amby, Runner's World Complete Book of Running (1999) Rodale, ISBN 1-57954-186-0
- Burfoot, Amby, The Principles of Running: Practical Lessons from My First 100,000 Miles (1999) Rodale Press; 1ST edition ISBN 1-57954-038-4; New Ed edition (2003) ISBN 1-57954-741-9
- Burfoot, Amby, The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What 35 Years of Running Has Taught Me About Winning, Losing, Happiness, Humility, and the Human Heart (2000) Rodale Press; 1ST edition ISBN 1-57954-263-8
- Burfoot, Amby, Runner's World Complete Book of Beginning Running (2005) Rodale Press, ISBN 1-59486-022-X