Hour run
Encyclopedia
The one hour run is an athletics event in which competitors try to cover as much distance as possible within one hour. While officially recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations
as a track event, it is rarely contested apart from occasional world record attempts.
The event has a long history, with first recorded races dating back to the late 17th century, and the first officially recognized world record set by Alfred Shrubb
in 1904. The first female official world record was set by Silvana Crociata in 1981.
The first athlete to run more than 20 kilometers in one hour was Emil Zátopek
, in September 1951. Zátopek also set the 20,000 meters world record in the same race, and since that time all men's 20,000 m world records were set en route to one hour world records, except in Dionísio Castro
's 1990 attempt, when he broke the 20,000 m record, yet narrowly missed Jos Hermens
' one hour record.
, the men's world record is 21,285 m, set by Haile Gebrselassie
on June 27, 2007, while the women's world record is 18,517 m, set by Dire Tune
on June 12, 2008.
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
as a track event, it is rarely contested apart from occasional world record attempts.
The event has a long history, with first recorded races dating back to the late 17th century, and the first officially recognized world record set by Alfred Shrubb
Alfred Shrubb
Alfred "Alfie" Shrubb was an English middle distance runner. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 and a professional career from 1905 to 1912 he won over 1,000 races of about 1,800 started...
in 1904. The first female official world record was set by Silvana Crociata in 1981.
The first athlete to run more than 20 kilometers in one hour was Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, in September 1951. Zátopek also set the 20,000 meters world record in the same race, and since that time all men's 20,000 m world records were set en route to one hour world records, except in Dionísio Castro
Dionísio Castro
Dionísio Silva Castro is a former long-distance runner from Portugal, best known for setting the world record in the 20,000 metres on 31 March 1990, when he clocked 57:18.4 in La Flèche...
's 1990 attempt, when he broke the 20,000 m record, yet narrowly missed Jos Hermens
Jos Hermens
Josephus Maria Melchior Hermens is a former Dutch long-distance runner, also known for his latter career as a sports manager....
' one hour record.
, the men's world record is 21,285 m, set by Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
on June 27, 2007, while the women's world record is 18,517 m, set by Dire Tune
Dire Tune
Dire Tune is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Tune competed in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships. At the 2006 World Road Running Championships she finished fourth in the individual competition. This was good enough to help Ethiopia win a silver medal in the team competition.On April 21,...
on June 12, 2008.