By Davy Crockett



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The first certified 100 km race in America was held at Lake Waramaug, Connecticut, in 1974. Today it remains as the oldest 100 km race in the country and the second oldest American ultra still held. For many years in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, it was the unofficial national championship for the 100 km distance and the best ultrarunners in the U.S. made their pilgrimage to Lake Waramaug to test their abilities on the 7.59-mile paved road loop around the lake.

Before 1974, the 50-mile or 100-mile distances had been the America's “standard” ultra distances. But most of the ultras held during the 1970s were of odd lengths. There were a few road 50 kms, such as those put on by the AAU in Sacramento. But in the New York City area, the hotspot for ultramarathons put on by Ted Corbitt (1919-2007), of the New York Road Runners, had a large variety of ultra distances during the 1960s and early 1970s. San Francisco had been the scene of multiple 32 milers. Racing around Lake Tahoe for 72 miles would become popular starting in 1975. No one had yet thought to put on a race that was exactly 100 km.

The Great Tarahumara 100 km of 1926

We must give credit to Mexico and the Tarahumara for the earliest known running race that was strictly 100 km long. With the Central American Games coming to Mexico in 1926, Jesus Antonio Almeida (1885-1957), the governor of the State of Chihuahua, and the President of Mexico, Plutarco Elias Calles (1877-1945) wanted to showcase the newly discovered Tarahumara distance running talent on this world stage. They arranged for an exhibition 100 km race to be held.

It was called La carrera Tarahumara, or the “Great Tarahumaran Race,” and was held five days after the games. It was hoped with the attention to this race, that the 100 km would be adopted by the upcoming Olympic Games. “They dreamed that their Tarahumaran countrymen would win honor for Mexico by thrilling the world at Amsterdam in 1928.” With Mexican victories, they hoped that it would help drive away racial lies about the Mexican people.

The 100 km race was held on a highway from the silver mining center Pachuca to the stadium in Mexico City. Tarahumaras, Tomas Zafiro ran along with Leoncio San Miguel. A third Tarahumara, Virgillo Espinoza, also competed but did not finish. The race began in the dark at 3:05 a.m. The people in the villages along the highway to Mexico City lined the road to cheer them on to the city. They shot off firecrackers, cheered, and some joined in to run with them for short distances. Church bells tolled, bringing out more spectators.

Zafiro and San Miguel entered the stadium packed with thousands of spectators at about 12:35 p.m. and ran three laps around the track, finishing tied for the win of 9:37. College athletes at the games were astonished. Zafiro and San Miguel became national heroes.

100 km Races Begin in Europe

George Perdon

100 km races began to be held in Europe as early as 1959 with the Lauf Biel 100K that was competed on a long road loop in Biel, Switzerland. Most of these European 100 km events started as hikes but opened up to runners. In 1974, nearly 2,500 runners and walkers finished the very popular European race. At least 14 100 km races were held that year in Europe. The fastest recorded 100 km times were usually split times accomplished by runners trying to achieve longer distances, such as 100 miles. In 1974, before America had a 100 km race, the world record of 6:42:53, was held by Ensio Tanninen (1936-) of Finland, who set that mark on an uncertified road course in 1972 at Järvenpää, Finland. The record on a certified track was 7:26:14, set by George Perdon (1924-1993) of Australia, in 1970, at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Australia.

America Was Slow to Adopt the 100 km Ultra

America, of course, was not on the metric system, although there was increased discussion in the 1970s to start using it.