A Legendary Night

Francesca and I rode down to Red Bank, NJ to visit our friend Rick Ivone. This was no ordinary social call. Rick was hosting the "Greatest Long Distance Runner" in US History - Stu Mittleman. In fact he is in the US Long Distance Running Hall of Fame!

About Stu:

- He set three consecutive American 100-Mile Road Race records in the US National Championships 1980-1982. His fastest 100-Mile Run was 12 hours 56 minutes. In 1986, he won the 1,000 Mile World Championship and set a new world record by running the distance (1 609.344 kilometers) in 11 days, 20 hours 36 min. 56 sec. Mittleman set three consecutive American Records in the 6-Day Race, the final one being set in 1985 at the University of Colorado Field House. One record, which still stands: 577.75 miles in 6 Days. His greatest accomplishment is perhaps his 2927 mile Run Across America from San Diego to New York City. He completed this in 56 days! (That's 2 Marathons a day for 56 consecutive days.)

Now I'll be honest, I couldn't help but think "Could I do that?" I mean i'ts been done, so I know it's possible.

Then Stu mentioned how much the trip cost him in $$ and I thought to myself "I'm no longer curious!"

Facts:

- Holds degress in Sociology, Sports Psychology, and Exercise Physiology.

- Was the 1st US athlete ever sponsored by Gatorade.

- Completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.

- He has appeared on ABC News' Nightline, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, CBS Sports Saturday, the CBS Evening News, Good Day New York,ESPN, and CNN.

- Stu lives with his three children, Beau, Mackenzie, and Alana Fayth, in Palm Desert, CA.

I've never finished a run and thought; "that was a waste of time."

-Frank Pucher

(apparently Stu either!)