Gary Tuttle
Encyclopedia
Gary Tuttle is an American
long distance runner and local politician from Ventura, California
. Over a lengthy career, he won two NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
s, set three American records, ran for the USA team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, won the Bay to Breakers
race and placed second in the Boston Marathon
.
Basketball
coach Bob Tuttle (for whom the gymnasium at that high school is names), but went to cross town rival Buena High School
, playing traditional sports basketball and baseball. Running with the baseball team, he happened upon the distance running team and found he could keep up with them. He was asked to join Jim Hunt's Cross Country
team. He finally joined the track team in his senior year, 1965, the first year the 2 mile race was held officially in California high schools.
He followed Jim Hunt to Humboldt State University
, winning the Division II National Championship in the steeplechase
in 1968 and 1969, setting the record in that event both times.
After being drafted
into the Army, serving as a conscientious objector
, Tuttle continued to run. It was at this time he attempted his first marathon
, finishing second in the first and winning the second. In 1975 he was the fourth ranked marathoner in the United States and was considering himself a marathoner. He won the National Championships in the Marathon in both 1975 and 1976 Only one person since Tuttle has successfully repeated as National Champion He also was the first National Champion at 15 kilometers and also won the National Championship at 25 kilometers. He placed seventh overall at the 1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
.
At the Olympic Trials
he finished 7th in the 10,000 metres in 1976 and also made the trials in 1980 and 1984. He also ran in the Marathon trials in 1976. He continued to do marathons and in 1985 finished second in the Boston Marathon
behind England's Geoff Smith
's repeat victory. It was kind of unexpected for the 37 year old accompanying his future wife, Ruth Vomund to her first visit to the event.
One key or result from Tuttle's success is he possessed one of the highest VO2 max
capabilities recorded. After a career of Marathons, Tuttle has come to realize that the marathon distance is not his best, pointing to his lifetime personal record in the 10,000 metres of 28:26 as indicating he should have been able to run a marathon six minutes faster.
Feeling like a bullet-proof long distance runner, Tuttle found his undoing in attempting a remarkable stunt—running his age on his birthday. When he turned 39, the ran 39 miles. While he successfully negotiated that ordeal, without taking time off, he continued to train as he had for the last two decades. He injured his hamstrings to the point that he was never able to run without pain, though he has continued to run sporadically into his 60's.
champion Josh Spiker, who would buy the store from Tuttle in 2007. During this period, Tuttle was instrumental in the organization of several dozen races every year and worked as a starter or official for dozens more.
Tuttle is now active as a leader in the Ventura County Democratic Party.
In 1989, Tuttle was elected into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
long distance runner and local politician from Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. Over a lengthy career, he won two NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
s, set three American records, ran for the USA team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
, won the Bay to Breakers
Bay to Breakers
The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California on the third Sunday of May. The name reflects the fact that the race starts at the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero and runs west through the city to finish at the Great...
race and placed second in the 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...
.
Running success
Tuttle was the son of Ventura High SchoolVentura High School
Ventura High School is a secondary school located in Ventura, California. The school was founded in 1889 and is currently a California Distinguished School.-Notable alumni:*Mike Larrabee...
Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach Bob Tuttle (for whom the gymnasium at that high school is names), but went to cross town rival Buena High School
Buena High School (California)
-External links:**...
, playing traditional sports basketball and baseball. Running with the baseball team, he happened upon the distance running team and found he could keep up with them. He was asked to join Jim Hunt's Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
team. He finally joined the track team in his senior year, 1965, the first year the 2 mile race was held officially in California high schools.
He followed Jim Hunt to Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
, winning the Division II National Championship in the 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...
in 1968 and 1969, setting the record in that event both times.
After being drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
into the Army, serving as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, Tuttle continued to run. It was at this time he attempted his first marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
, finishing second in the first and winning the second. In 1975 he was the fourth ranked marathoner in the United States and was considering himself a marathoner. He won the National Championships in the Marathon in both 1975 and 1976 Only one person since Tuttle has successfully repeated as National Champion He also was the first National Champion at 15 kilometers and also won the National Championship at 25 kilometers. He placed seventh overall at the 1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1976 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 4th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on February 28, 1976 in Chepstow, Wales.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :*...
.
At the Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
he finished 7th in the 10,000 metres in 1976 and also made the trials in 1980 and 1984. He also ran in the Marathon trials in 1976. He continued to do marathons and in 1985 finished second in the 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...
behind England's Geoff Smith
Geoff Smith (athlete)
Geoffrey Smith is a British long-distance runner who won the Boston Marathon in both 1984 and 1985.-Notable Information:...
's repeat victory. It was kind of unexpected for the 37 year old accompanying his future wife, Ruth Vomund to her first visit to the event.
One key or result from Tuttle's success is he possessed one of the highest VO2 max
VO2 max
VO2 max is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual...
capabilities recorded. After a career of Marathons, Tuttle has come to realize that the marathon distance is not his best, pointing to his lifetime personal record in the 10,000 metres of 28:26 as indicating he should have been able to run a marathon six minutes faster.
Feeling like a bullet-proof long distance runner, Tuttle found his undoing in attempting a remarkable stunt—running his age on his birthday. When he turned 39, the ran 39 miles. While he successfully negotiated that ordeal, without taking time off, he continued to train as he had for the last two decades. He injured his hamstrings to the point that he was never able to run without pain, though he has continued to run sporadically into his 60's.
Businessman
For three decades (1976 to 2007), Tuttle owned the Inside Track Running Store in Ventura, creating and coaching the Team Inside Track team of local community runners. The best of those runner, the TIT Racing Team, included Vomund and eventual CIF California State MeetCIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
champion Josh Spiker, who would buy the store from Tuttle in 2007. During this period, Tuttle was instrumental in the organization of several dozen races every year and worked as a starter or official for dozens more.
Political office
Tuttle was part of a pro-environmental wave of candidates that won seats on the Ventura City Council in 1989. He was re-elected in 1993 against a wave of pro-growth candidates, rising to the position of Deputy Mayor. In frustration with the direction of the council, Tuttle chose not to seek a third term.Tuttle is now active as a leader in the Ventura County Democratic Party.
In 1989, Tuttle was elected into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.