# Attn: sports enthusiasts \[About running/distance records\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 25, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240 "2011-07-25T04:21:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![colpkbarwarsvet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@colpkbarwarsvet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colpkbarwarsvet)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240/1 "2011-07-25T04:21:04Z")

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In the 1940s a well known track coach predicted a set of ultimate times and distances for several events. He declared that these standards were the best performances for those events that could ever be achieved. The only one I can remember is 4:01 for the mile. All of the marks have long since been surpassed. Does anyone remember any other information about this?

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**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240/2 "2011-07-25T04:22:21Z")

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I’m going to shoot this over to the Games (and sports) forum for ya. You’ll probably have better luck getting an answer to your question there.  
I’ve also edited the title, just a bit, to show what you’re specifically asking for.

Welcome to the boards, by the way.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240/3 "2011-07-25T04:35:28Z")

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Might have been[Brutus Hamilton.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutus_Hamilton)  
[Here he predicts](http://books.google.com/books?id=I0EEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=brutus+hamilton+100+yard&source=bl&ots=lR1kTqhYHu&sig=NqnxOrznDnwxswwNtJXgxDSszAo&hl=en&ei=2vEsTs6CNI-ssAPzscjECg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=brutus%20hamilton%20100%20yard&f=false) no one will run 100 yards in under 9.0 seconds. Scroll to page 17, right hand column.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-sports-enthusiasts-about-running-distance-records/590240/4 "2011-07-25T04:45:01Z")

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Found it, sorta.  
It’s called _The Ultimate in Human Effort_ by Brutus Hamilton but I haven’t found a copy online.

Here’s a [cached copy](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:HpcnF3C2slUJ:www.corporatevine.com/library/ultimate.htm+brutus+hamilton+predicts&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com)of an article about it.