Leonard Hurst

Early life

Len Hurst was born in Kent, England, where he trained as a brick-maker. Hurst won his first adult race in 1887 at the age of 15. The prize of £10 for the 6 km (3.7 mi) race qualified him as 'professional'. At the beginning of his career, Hurst ran shorter races; however, switching to longer distances in 1893, Hurst covered 294 km (183 mi) during a four-day event.

His brother Joe was also a runner, finishing sixth in the 1896 Paris Marathon and acting as team-mate with Len in the English team at the Madison Square Garden Six Day Walk in 1902. The New York Times reported both Len and Joe as residents of Edmonton, London in 1902.

Paris Marathon

On 18 July 1896 the inaugural Paris Marathon was organised by Pierre Giffard on behalf of Le Petit Journal. The event followed on from the success of the marathon in the 1896 inaugural Olympics in Athens. Giffard started the race before a large crowd at Porte Maillot, and it followed a course to Versailles and finished in front of 2,000 spectators on the bridge over the river Seine in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, an approximate distance of 40 km (25 mi). During the race his refreshments reportedly included orange-juice and a glass of champagne. Hurst earned the 200-franc prize in a winning time of 2:31:30; 27 minutes faster than the mark of 2:58:50 set by Spiridon Louis of Greece three months earlier at the first Olympic marathon in Athens, Greece on 10 April 1896. Set on courses shorter than the now-standardized distance of 42,195 km (26 miles 385 yards), the performances of Louis and Hurst were never officially recognised as world records in the marathon.

1897 contemporary sources report Hurst finishing second behind F. Champion in the second running of the event; and again finishing second in 1899 behind A. Charbonnel.

In 1900 the race was run in the opposite direction, starting from Conflans-Sainte-Honorine and finishing at Porte Maillot in Paris. Hurst won this fifth event with a time of 2:26.48.

In 1901 he won the sixth edition in a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes 52 seconds.

World champion and world record at 25 miles

On 23 September 1901 Hurst won the professional '25 Mile World Championships' which was held at the 'Tee-To-Tum' ground at Stamford Hill in London.

Two years later, on 27 August 1903 at the same track, Hurst set the professional world record of 2:32:42, for 25 mi (40 km), thus breaking George Dunning's amateur time of 2:33:44.0 which had stood since 1881. Hurst, a professional, was paced specifically to break Dunning's amateur mark.

Other races

A month after winning the 1900 Paris marathon he ran a 50 km (31 mi) event in 3:36.45.

In 1899 the South London Harriers organised the first London to Brighton run for amateurs. In 1903 the London Evening Standard organised a second event that was open to professionals. Along with 90 other runners Hurst participated in the 85 km (53 mi) race from the Houses of Parliament London to Brighton, setting off at 6 am and winning in 6 hours, 32 minutes 34 seconds, with a lead of 40 minutes over the second place runner. (See 'Commemoration' below.)

On 10 February 1902 the New York Times reported that Len and his brother Joe constituted the 'English team' in the Six Day Walk which started at Madison Square Gardens with an audience of 5,000. Forty-two teams started at midnight in... the six-day, "go as you please" pedestrian race. ... running, jogging, and walking in every variety of gait known to pedestrianism. ...each man to walk not more than 12 hours a day. The event was won by the Irish-American Pat Cavanaugh and Peter Hagelman.

On 20 July 1902 Len Hurst won a 1-hour walking race in Paris, covering 10.5 miles (16.9 km) and finishing ahead of the Frenchman Albert Charbonnell and fellow Englishman Mr Bacon.

On 30 Hakihea (December) 1903 the Otago Witness reported that Len Hurst would represent England at the Vélodrome Buffalo in Paris in the Fifty mile 'Go as you please' race for professional pedestrians of all nations. Each competitor was accompanied by two cyclists.

He was successful in a number of multi-day races including almost the last flourish of Six Day racing – the 2-man 6 Day relay of 1904.

Training methods

Hurst's training consisted of 6 to 7 hours walking and running 10–30 km, spread over two sessions each day. In 1896 he was coached by Mr Boon.

In 1908 Hurst gave details of his training in a book written by Alf Downer. His training was devised for events from 15 to 50 miles (80 km), and he advised all long distance runners to include any amount of walking exercise. His suggested daily programme was: Rise at six followed by a steady walk till 8.30. Breakfast. Rest till 9.45 then walk till 11 am followed by a three mile (5 km) run. Dinner at 12.45 followed by a rest on a bed until 3 o’clock. An hour’s walk followed by a three mile (5 km) run. Tea at 5.30 followed by a walk from 6.30 to 8.30. Finally relaxation until bed at ten o’clock.

According to Tim Noakes, Hurst, like Charles Rowell, Arthur Newton, and Clarence DeMar, achieved greatness without much attention to speedwork.

Death and commemoration

After retiring in 1908, Hurst managed a pub for the rest of his life. In 1937 at the age of 66, he died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Since the rebirth of the London to Brighton run in 1951, the 'Len Hurst belt' has been awarded to the winning team. This award is the actual championship belt awarded to Len Hurst in 1903. The winners include: