Records smashed at the JFK 50 mile ultramarathon
Records have been smashed at the JFK 50 mile ultramarathon recently. David Sinclair and Rachel Drake won the respective men's and women's titles in the 62nd annual event - the oldest in the ultra-calendar - which takes place in Washington County (Maryland) every year.
Sinclair of South Burlington (Vermont) knocked 10 minutes off the men’s record finishing in 5:8:27, while Drake of Salt Lake City won the women's competition in 5:57:33 - taking more than eight minutes off the previous record.
The race began in downtown Boonsboro and ended in Williamsport. It featured more than 1,000 runners from across the US and 11 other countries all hoping to complete the 50.2-mile route, which took in the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal towpath.
Sinclair ran with Colorado’s Eli Hemming for the first 37 miles, but thereafter broke away as his rival faded. Race director Mike Spinnler, twice a champion himself, described Sinclair’s result as the:
“Greatest 50-mile performance in the history of our species”.
In the women’s, Rachel Drake fought off a challenge from another Colorado runner Mary Denholm to maintain and stretch her lead in the final miles. It was anything but easy for her, however, having rolled her ankle twice along the course.
In total, 1,118 runners crossed the finish line within the 13-hour time limit, beating the previous record of 1,078, which was set in 2007. William Distad, of Hagerstown, Maryland, completed his 26th consecutive JFK, finishing in 9:59:06.
If you too are feeling inspired to run the JFK or a similar race, get in touch with ultra trainer Maximum Mileage Coaching today to get ultra training tips.
