Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« on: July 18, 2010, 10:32:46 am » |
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I know this sounds crazy, but I was able to gather the results for every St. George Marathon, from 1977 to last year, and was able to compile a list of the top 1000 times for both men and for women. So, top 1000 men's times, and top 1000 women's times. To make the list for men, the time was 2:40:33, and for women, 3:13:48.
The most difficult part of this list was finding the results! The city Marathon offices were very helpful, but actually didn't have the results from 1978 and 1979. I was able to track down a copy, and will be giving the City a copy.
What I thought was most amazing, is that there is a MALE runner that actually has a time from EVERY decade in the top 1000, so he has a time in the 1970's, 80's, 90's and 2000's.....
Do you have any guesses on who that might be?
Cheers
Mike
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Jon Allen
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« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2010, 03:38:40 pm » |
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I'm going to guess... Russ Bennett. Am I right?
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2010, 04:37:16 pm » |
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You are correct. Russell Bennett finished in 9th place in 1979 as a 19 yr old, running a 2.40.22. Russ eventually ran a PR of 2.27.29 in 1994, but also, at the age of 41, in 2001, ran 2:34.29, giving him a top 1000 time in each decade.
It is incredible to report that Russ Bennett has an astounding 19 times in the top 1000, the next most by an individual male runner is 13 times in the top 1000. The St. George marathon has a "10 year club", but Russ would lead the way in a different "Ten Year Club" of runners with at least 10 times in the top 1000. Total population of that "club" is only 6 Male runners. I haven't totaled the Women side just yet.
And yes, i do have a job and a life, but i found this very interesting.
I learned quite a few interesting facts, maybe I can share a few.
cheers
Mike
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Jon Allen
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« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2010, 05:22:59 pm » |
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I only know that because I work with Russ, and know he is in the 25 year club, or something like that. I also know he was very fast, and still is a top finisher. He's a good guy. Pretty impressive SGM accolades.
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Dave Holt
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« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2010, 02:05:11 pm » |
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So Mike, have you posted the list somewhere?
I guess this is the kind of thing you do in the summer when you live in St. George and Vegas - you can't get out and do anything!
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2010, 03:56:41 pm » |
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Yes, Dave, when it is 113 degrees outside, I compile lists. And I guess this is my latest. As for you, your best time of 2:26:52 in 2007 lands you #218 on the list. Interestingly, you also have the 4th fastest time for a runner that lists Washington County as their hometown. 3 of those 4 fastest times were also done in 2007, with Nick McCombs of Toquerville running a 2:20:49, the 52nd fastest time, and of course, Clyde Behunin of St. George, running a 2:25:50, for #184 on the list. The other runner in the top 4 from Washington County was in 2001, when Hobie Call of LaVerkin, ran the 166th fastest time, 2:25:07. On the results sheets, it lists hometowns, but in 1980, 81 and 82, it didn't list a hometown, but they had a "mark" if it was a local runner, so my note above should be correct. And no, I have not posted it anywhere, i just finished it last week, and I am not sure where to post it. I am currently trying to rank the top 50 "legendary" runners, in order, based on my extremely scientific research, that participated in the St. George Marathon. It would combine performance of the runners, of course, along with some longevity stats thrown in. I am just not sure anyone cares other than me.  |
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Dave Holt
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« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2010, 10:46:53 am » |
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I think it is pretty cool stuff too!
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Joe Furse
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« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2010, 05:10:33 pm » |
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Those are interesting stats! Don't worry, there are more than one of us bloggers who are OCD enough to find "useless" trivia like this interesting. One day I'm going to have to break into that Top 1000...
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2010, 09:49:11 am » |
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Here is another interesting stat.
On the Men's side, the 1990's and 1980's dominated the times in the top 1000. The most times in the top 1000 actually came from the 1980's, with 383 places. The 1990's had 375 places, and the decade beginning in 2000 only had 226 spots, with the 1970's having the remaining 16. The 5 year period with the most places was 1991-1995, but then in the latter half of the '90s, it very much tailed off. The year with the most spots was 1995 with 60. That was my first year running in the St. George marathon, and I do remember cool temps, and a big increase in runners, as that was the year that Runners World Magazine came out with an article that St. George is the best marathon to qualify for Boston. That year also included many high level runners trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials.
On the Women's side, a much different story. The 2000's totally dominated, with 467 spots in the top 1000, followed by the 90's with 354, the 80's with only 178, and the 1970's had 3 spots in the top 1000 (and yes, that adds up to 1002, we have a tie for 1000th spot). The greatest 5 year period for the Women is the current period, from 2005-2009, and 2007 had the most from 1 year, with 70! 2007 was also an Olympic qualifying year, had cool cloudy weather, and a slight tailwind.
Cheers
Mike
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« Last Edit: July 21, 2010, 01:30:23 pm by Mike Schramm »
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Paul Petersen
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« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2010, 10:13:11 am » |
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And no, I have not posted it anywhere, i just finished it last week, and I am not sure where to post it.
If you email it to me, I can post it on my website. |
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2010, 09:54:32 pm » |
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Paul, I am still reviewing the list, catching a few errors.
Your 2nd place time in 2007 of 2.18.09 was the 16th fastest time in the history of the St. George marathon, in fact, only 5 runners in the 33 year history ran a faster time than you did, but did not win the race. Your time would have WON the St. George marathon in 23 of the 33 years, quite impressive.
Cheers
Mike
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Superfly
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« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2010, 10:28:44 am » |
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Awesome job Mike. I'm loving all the cool facts.
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2010, 06:23:19 pm » |
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Hey Thanks Clyde, and you own 3 times in the top 1000, #184, #357, and #649. How about this fact: There was a runner in the St. George marathon that ran a very fast time, in fact, the #10 all time fastest time, 2:17:19, by the name of Brian Larson. It is amazing that of the tens of thousands of runners that have toed the line up in Central, Mr. Larson ran the 10th fastest, a time that would have won 25 of the 33 marathons......but.......not only did he not win, with the 10th fastest time ever, he didn't even take 2nd place!! In 1991, Brian finished 3rd, behind Tracy Fifeld and David Petersen, in easily the fastest 1-2-3 ever in the race. This was the 3rd time that Brian had run the marathon in St. George, running 2:19:30 to finish 6th in 1987, and then finished 2nd in 1989 in 2:22:24. Another stat.....When considering the breakdown of the top 1000, there are 309 different MALE runners that have 1 time in the top 1000. 108 have two times, 47 have 3 times (such as Clyde noted above), 16 have 4 times, 7 runners have 5 times in the top 1000, 6 have 6 times, 5 have 7 times, 9 runners have 8 times in the top 1000, 2 runners have 9 times, 3 have 10 times in the top 1000, and then....Ronald Greenwood has 12 times in the top 1000, Brad Hardy has 13 times in the top 1000, and as mentioned before, Russell Bennett has an amazing 19 times in the top 1000. Much different for the women......for their top 1000, 423 different FEMALES have only 1 time in the top 1000, 98 have 2 times, 44 have 3 times, eighteen females have 4 times, 12 have 5 times, 6 have 6 times in the top 1000, 2 have 7 times, 3 have 8 times, and then, Alydia Barton and Kerilyn Hatch each have 9 times in the top 1000, Brenda Graham Gray has 12 times, and finally, the legendary Cheryl Harper has 15 times in the top 1000. Of Course, this is all leading to the eventually unveiling of the top 50 Male and top 50 Female All - Time St. George Marathon runners based upon my extremely scientific research  . I am just debating on whether to run it by the City Staff to give it an air of respectability. Although, they would probably look at me and roll their eyes..... |
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Dave Holt
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« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2010, 10:22:21 am » |
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Mike, we could get you in touch with our buddy Aaron (who works at the city with the races) and maybe he cold give Kent a push to do something cool with it.
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Mike Schramm
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Posts: 18
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« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2010, 12:56:32 pm » |
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Hey Dave, that is a good idea, I know Aaron Metler a bit, but not as well as you do, and you probably see him much more than i do. I believe he initially is aware of what I was doing with the top 1000 list, as he was my contact to get me in to see Carlene at the city offices to get the other marathon results.
Thanks
Mike
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