By Davy Crockett
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The strange story of ultrarunner Richard Lacouse has never been told before. Piecing together his unusual life story was an adventure in itself. He was once a famous, elite, ultrarunner/pedestrian from Boston during the late 19th century, one of the most prolific six-day pedestrians during the early years of the sport.

As with other runners of his time who amassed a fortune in winnings, he chose to use that money for nefarious purposes, rather than for good. His life turned from a race around a track for six days, to a race to stay ahead of the law and to dodge one of the most skilled detectives in the country. In his wake he left behind abuse and corruption until deciding to make an honest living in Montana in the mine industry to conclude his life.



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Early Circus Life

Parents: Joseph and Emelie Lacourse

Richard “Dick” Amos Lacouse (1848-1923), a French Canadian, was born in 1848, in Sainte-Marcell, Quebec, Canada. He was the son of Joseph Octave Lacourse (1825-1876), a carpenter, and Emelie Guilbert (1826-1892), the oldest of eight children.  His Lacourse ancestors had lived in Quebec, Canada for many generations. By 1870, the family moved to Fall River, Massachusetts. Once he reached adulthood, Richard left home seeking adventure and athletic performances, and for unknown reasons dropped the “r” in his last name for half of his life.

He claimed that he became acquainted with Charles Blodin (1824-1897), a man who had shocked the world by walking over Niagara Falls on a tight rope in 1859. Blodin taught Lacouse how to rope walk, but the young man gave it up after a serious fall during an exhibition. He next became a trapeze performer for several years, claiming to be a star in P.T. Barnum’s circus. In 1873, he gave up the circus, settled in Boston, Massachusetts, married Catherine Buckley (1844-), and started a fish market.  The business venture failed, and he became a bricklayer.

Lacouse first appeared in newsprint in 1875, not for a great accomplishment. He was arrested and accused of stealing $150 worth of property from various people outside of Boston. He was living in the slums of Boston, where he worked as a bouncer and bartender in various houses of ill-repute.

Beantown Pedestrian

In May 1879, at the age of 31, Lacouse made his debut in pedestrianism when he participated in the first big ultrarunning event in Boston, Massachusetts. It was an interstate pedestrian tournament relay race between teams from Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. It was also called, “The Bean Pot Tramp” held in a mammoth tent at the Riding Academy in Back Bay, Boston.

Barton Street, Boston

With the popularity of pedestrianism taking fire, Lacouse decided to try out for the big event. It was reported, “he said he was undersized at that time, but his legs were hard as iron and sinews of steel wire. The tryout was a revelation to the management of the tournament which immediately bargained with Lacouse to join the Massachusetts team.” He was described as weighing 135 pounds, standing at 5’7”, a “stocky Frenchman,” who lived on Barton Street in Boston.

Each state’s team consisted of 12 runners.  Each day, for six days, two runners on each team would run for six hours. Maine came out on top, but Lacouse, often referred to as “the Frenchman,” ran more than 35 miles during his turn which was the second furthest of all the runners in the competition, earning him $75.

For the final week of the tournament, he competed in a six-day walking match with 20 others. He put on an impressive performance. “Lacouse is still in the lead. He is a wonderful specimen of humanity. His feet are badly blistered, yet he walks with apparent ease, and for pluck he has no equal.