Ron Hill
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ron" Hill, MBE
, BSc, PhD (born 25 September 1938), is a noted runner and founder of Ron Hill and Hilly Clothing Company. Hill was born in Accrington
, Lancashire, England. He was the second man to break 2:10 in the marathon
; he set world records at four other distances, but never laid claim to the marathon world record. He has run two Olympic
Marathons (Tokyo 1964
and Munich 1972
), and has a personal marathon record of 2:09:28. In 1970, Hill won the 74th Boston Marathon
in a course record 2:10:30. He also won gold medals for the marathon at the European Championships
in 1969 and the Commonwealth Games
in 1970.
Hill represented Great Britain three times in the Summer Olympic Games between 1964 and 1972, in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres events.
In 1963, Hill won the 6 miles (9.7 km) event at the British Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) championships in a time of 27:49.8, equalling the UK record. In the following year's AAA six mile (10 km) race, Hill was outsprinted by Mike Bullivant, who won by less than half a second; both runners, however, finished more than twenty seconds under the UK record. At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Hill placed 18th in the 10000 metres
, in a time of 29:53.0, and 19th in the marathon, in 2:25:34.4.
In 1964, Hill set his first world record, clocking 1:15:22.6 for 25 kilometres (15.5 mi), eclipsing Emil Zátopek
's previous mark by more than 1 minute; he also set another world record of 1:12:48.2 for 15 miles (24.1 km) along the way in that race.
Hill was the first winner of the Freckleton Half Marathon (The UK's oldest) in 1964 and still holds the course record of 1 hour 4 minutes.
In 1966, Hill competed in the European Championships Marathon, finishing twelfth.
On 6 April 1968, in the British AAA 10 miles (16.1 km) championship at Leicester
, Hill set a new world record of 47:02.2; he won the AAA 10 miles (16.1 km) every year between 1965 and 1969. Later in 1968, he again lowered the world 10 miles (16.1 km) world record, to 46:44.0. In the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, he placed seventh in the 10000m.
In 1969, Hill won the European Championships
Marathon on the Marathon
-to-Athens
course.
Hill's final marathon was the 100th Boston Marathon, in 1996. He completed 115 marathons, 112 under 2:50, 103 under 2:45 and 29 under 2:20.
, by a wide margin, shattering the course record by three minutes with a time of 2:10:30. In July, at the British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
, he became the first man ever to break the 2:10 barrier, clocking a world record time of 2:09:28. Hill was timed in 29:24 for the first 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) at Edinburgh, the equivalent of a 2:04 marathon pace, described as "suicidal".http://www.time-to-run.com/marathon/athletes/men/hill.htm He arrived at the Fukuoka International Marathon
as a clear favourite, but placed only ninth.
Hill was ranked as the top marathoner of the year for 1970 by Track & Field News
, on the strength of his two important wins – the Boston and British Commonwealth Games marathons. The next year, Hill was honoured with the Order of the British Empire
for "services to athletics".
surgery, after which he used a crutch for one mile (1.6 km) in 27 minutes the next day.
Hill achieved his goal of racing in 100 countries before his 70th birthday with races in Panama and the Faroe Islands.
He has since started Hilly Clothing specialising in "technical socks" and other apparel.
from 1987 – 1988.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, BSc, PhD (born 25 September 1938), is a noted runner and founder of Ron Hill and Hilly Clothing Company. Hill was born in Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
, Lancashire, England. He was the second man to break 2:10 in the 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...
; he set world records at four other distances, but never laid claim to the marathon world record. He has run two Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
Marathons (Tokyo 1964
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
and Munich 1972
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
), and has a personal marathon record of 2:09:28. In 1970, Hill won the 74th 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...
in a course record 2:10:30. He also won gold medals for the marathon at the European Championships
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
in 1969 and the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in 1970.
Running career
Hill held numerous national and world long distance running records. He held world records for 10 miles (16.1 km) (47:02, Leicester, April 1968; 46:44, Leicester, November 1968); 15 miles (24.1 km) (72:48.2, Bolton, July 1965); and 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) (75:22.6, Bolton, July 1965).Hill represented Great Britain three times in the Summer Olympic Games between 1964 and 1972, in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres events.
In 1963, Hill won the 6 miles (9.7 km) event at the British Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) championships in a time of 27:49.8, equalling the UK record. In the following year's AAA six mile (10 km) race, Hill was outsprinted by Mike Bullivant, who won by less than half a second; both runners, however, finished more than twenty seconds under the UK record. At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Hill placed 18th in the 10000 metres
10000 metres
The 10,000 metres or 10K is a common long distance running event. As "10,000 metres" it is a track event, and appears in athletics events such as the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics; as "10K" it is a roadrace or cross country running event...
, in a time of 29:53.0, and 19th in the marathon, in 2:25:34.4.
In 1964, Hill set his first world record, clocking 1:15:22.6 for 25 kilometres (15.5 mi), eclipsing 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...
's previous mark by more than 1 minute; he also set another world record of 1:12:48.2 for 15 miles (24.1 km) along the way in that race.
Hill was the first winner of the Freckleton Half Marathon (The UK's oldest) in 1964 and still holds the course record of 1 hour 4 minutes.
In 1966, Hill competed in the European Championships Marathon, finishing twelfth.
On 6 April 1968, in the British AAA 10 miles (16.1 km) championship at Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Hill set a new world record of 47:02.2; he won the AAA 10 miles (16.1 km) every year between 1965 and 1969. Later in 1968, he again lowered the world 10 miles (16.1 km) world record, to 46:44.0. In the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, he placed seventh in the 10000m.
In 1969, Hill won the European Championships
1969 European Championships in Athletics
The 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16 September to 21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens, the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1,500 metres and the women's 4x400 metres relay event....
Marathon on the Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
-to-Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
course.
Hill's final marathon was the 100th Boston Marathon, in 1996. He completed 115 marathons, 112 under 2:50, 103 under 2:45 and 29 under 2:20.
1970
In 1970, Hill became the first British runner to win the Boston MarathonBoston 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...
, by a wide margin, shattering the course record by three minutes with a time of 2:10:30. In July, at the British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, he became the first man ever to break the 2:10 barrier, clocking a world record time of 2:09:28. Hill was timed in 29:24 for the first 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) at Edinburgh, the equivalent of a 2:04 marathon pace, described as "suicidal".http://www.time-to-run.com/marathon/athletes/men/hill.htm He arrived at the Fukuoka International 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...
as a clear favourite, but placed only ninth.
Hill was ranked as the top marathoner of the year for 1970 by Track & Field News
Track & Field News
Track & Field News is a magazine founded in 1948 by brothers Bert Nelson & Cordner Nelson, focused on the world of track and field.The magazine provides coverage of athletics in the U.S.A. from the high school to national level as well as covering the sport on an international bases. The magazine...
, on the strength of his two important wins – the Boston and British Commonwealth Games marathons. The next year, Hill was honoured with the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for "services to athletics".
Streak
Hill has built a streak, in which he has not missed a day of running since December 1964, starting when he was becoming established as a world-class runner. Hill continues his streak, though he now defines a 'run' somewhat loosely; he has established baseline criteria of only one mile run, at any pace. Nevertheless, Hill's streak is a benchmark that other such streaks are usually compared against. In his streak, Hill includes workouts after a car crash in 1993 when he broke his sternum, and after bunionBunion
A bunion is a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the great toe, often erroneously described as an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the head of the big toe...
surgery, after which he used a crutch for one mile (1.6 km) in 27 minutes the next day.
Hill achieved his goal of racing in 100 countries before his 70th birthday with races in Panama and the Faroe Islands.
Achievements
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing 1970 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 2:10:30 1973 Enschede Marathon Enschede MarathonThe Enschede Marathon is an annual marathon race held in the city of Enschede, Netherlands. The race is the distance of a typical marathon . It has been held annually since 1991, after being bi-annual for the previous 44 years. The race crosses the German border through the city of Gronau...Enschede, Netherlands 1st 2:18:06 1975 Enschede Marathon Enschede MarathonThe Enschede Marathon is an annual marathon race held in the city of Enschede, Netherlands. The race is the distance of a typical marathon . It has been held annually since 1991, after being bi-annual for the previous 44 years. The race crosses the German border through the city of Gronau...Enschede, Netherlands 1st 2:15:59
Company
After graduating from university with a PhD in textile chemistry Ron Hill was convinced of the benefits of synthetic materials for runners. In 1970 he started a company, Ron Hill Sports, which pioneered various products including wrap-over shorts, mesh vests, waterproof running jackets and reflective strips, as Hill says "because I was running to and from work in the dark in winter and wondered what I needed to stay safe." Company sales at one point exceeded £6 million, but Hill sold out due to financial difficulties in the early 1990s.He has since started Hilly Clothing specialising in "technical socks" and other apparel.
Miscellaneous
Hill was president of the Road Runners ClubRoad Runners Club (UK)
The Road Runners Club is an association of road runners formed in 1952 to encourage the athletic discipline of road running in the United Kingdom.-History:...
from 1987 – 1988.
External links
- Website of Ronhill Outdoor & Sports Company Ltd
- Website of Hilly Clothing
- IAAF.org – 'A history of the Fukuoka International Marathon Championships: 1970', K. Ken Nakamura, International Association of Athletics FederationsInternational Association of Athletics FederationsThe 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...
- RunnersWorld.com – 'Always up for a Run', Joanna Sayago, Runner's WorldRunner's WorldRunner'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...
- Athletes of the marathon – Ron Hill – time-to-run.com
- Marathon Man: After 15,696 daily jogs, Ron Hill can give Alf Tupper a run for his money – Article by Simon Turnbull, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, 16 December 2007 - This Ron will run and run – Article by Jon Henderson, The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, 21 September 2008