Alan Price - 100-mile Ultrawalker | Ultrarunning History

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By Davy Crockett

Episode 75 introduced the Fort Meade 100 held in Maryland from 1978-1989. Lost in the Fort Meade history of the late 1970s was the fact that it also attracted Centurion racewalkers who attempted to walk 100 miles in less than 24-hours. It was reported, “Some participants were walkers engaged in an odd-looking sport of walking heel-to-toe as fast as possible. It’s a small sport, there’s a lot of camaraderie in it, with only about 600 people participating nationwide.”

Alan Price, an African American racewalker, was a fixture at Fort Meade 100 each year. He was an incredible athlete who became perhaps the greatest American ultra-distance racewalker ever. Price was truly an ultrarunning legend.

Also covered in this episode is a division of the ultrarunning sport that most Americans have never heard about before. It is The Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) in England that started holding 100-mile walking events during the 1970s that attracted the general public and some 100-mile runners. The events set the stage for many of the modern 100-mile trail events.

Alan Price – 100-mile walker

Alan Eugene Price (1947-2015) was an African America walker from Washington D.C. who sold herbs and health products. He took up the ultra-walking sport in 1974, and explained, “I had been running the 880-yard run for a club called the Travelers. The trouble was that I never seemed to finish better than last. There was this one meet where I finished my usual last. Then I heard the announcer make the first call for a two-mile race-walk. I looked around and saw that only one person had responded. Since there were three trophies being given out for the event, I decided to give it a try. I accidently took third place.” At that time, marathon fields consisted of hundreds of runners, while racewalking fields included only about a dozen walkers. This helped him decide to stick with racewalking because of the better chance to win a trophy.

It took Price some time to get the walking technique down. He said, “There can be a thin line between walking and running. It all depends on how the judges view it. When I first started out, I was guilty of things like not having both feet on the ground at all times. That made me more careful than anything else. It’s no fun to go out for five or six miles and then have someone disqualify you.”

As a black American, Price was a pioneer in the sport. He became a member of the Potomac Valley Seniors track club and said he felt funny practicing his walking in the daylight in Washington D.C., so he would train in the darkness of night at the track at Bennicker Junior High School. He said, “People who don’t do this, think it’s easy. That’s because they haven’t tried it yet.”

Just as today, the ultra-walking sport back in the late 1970s wasn’t well understood by the public. Price would be the object of taunts and laughter. “People saw the switching of the behind and arms flailing, and they seemed to get a big kick out of it. But after seeing for a while, they begin to realize that there must be some difficulty in it. People who saw me train in Malcolm X Park over the years respected what I was doing.”

Price first walked for personal satisfaction. He said, “It was something that I felt natural doing.” Then in 1976, he went to a meet at Niagara Falls, New York, where the top racewalkers in America were trying out for the Olympics. The top three finishers qualified, and he was only one minute behind. He said, “I was surprised, and it was at that point that I knew I could hang with the big boys.”

Episode 63 introduced “Centurions,” a brotherhood of walkers who had reached 100 miles in a judged racewalking event. Larry O’Neil (1907-1981), a lumberjack from Kalispell, Montana was America’s 100-mile walking pioneer who dominated events during the early days, setting in 1967 the American out-door record of 19:24:34. The world record was held by Huw Neilson (1924-) of Great Britain with a time of 17:18:50, set in 1960 at Walton-on-Thames, England. Neilson continued on, reaching a walking world record of 131 miles in 24 hours. His world records are still held to the present-day.

1978 Columbia 100

Most of the American 100-mile judged walking events were held on a track in Columbia, Missouri, on Hickman Track. Price explained how he decided to compete in the 1978 Columbia National Championship race. “I heard about the race in Columbia in an ad in Runners’ World along with a feature on one of the guys who won a lot. They had finish times in there, and I said, ‘I can do this.’ So I told everyone in D.C. I was going to Columbia and set a record. I had a hard time getting the money for the trip, but I always knew I would go. I was kind of the dark horse figuratively and literally.” Previously he had finished second at the 1976 C&O 300 km 3-day stage race, so he had built up a good ultra-distance base.

The weather for the historic 1978 race was perfect. Thirty-seven walkers competed including the defending champion, Paul Hendricks (1943-) a high school teacher from Chula Vista, California. Hendricks was confident that he could defend his title with his experience and technique. He said, “If you racewalk in a competition against top class racewalkers, you will hurt more than in a running competition.”

Price, the surprising newcomer, led the race from the beginning and pushed hard when others tried to catch up. He reached 50 miles in 8:56:47. During the night as he approached mile 70, the temperature dropped to about 35 degrees. He was not dressed properly and developed minor hypothermia. He started to walk all over the track with only a ten-minute lead and stopped a couple of times on the dark side of the track. Hendricks caught up to him at mile 76 and built up a 3-minute lead.

Price remembered, “I kept telling myself that I wanted that record and that’s what kept me going. I’ll never forget the feeling I had when that warm sun came up the following morning. It was like new life was being injected into my body.”

Price recovered and put on a chase, taking the lead at mile 82. “Hendricks succumbed to the effects of his hard effort to take the lead. This time he had no response and Price continued to pull away over the last 15 miles to take a very hard-fought and well-earned victory.” He crossed the finish line first and broke O’Neil’s American record with a mind-blowing walking time of 18:57:01. Henricks finished 13 minutes later. Eight other walkers reached 100 miles in under 24 hours. The veteran walker, O’Neil, age 71, reached 94 miles.

Price becomes the greatest American 100-mile ultra-walker

A year later, in 1979 again at Columbia, Price later reached 100 miles in 19:52:15 and decided to continue on, setting a new American 24-hour walking record of 118 miles 316 yards.

By 1980, Price was the 10^th fastest racewalker for the shorter 50 km distance in the United States. He credited his training regimen for his endurance and stamina. “In the winter, it’s too cold to walk, so I train by running distances up to 100 miles weekly. On the other hand, it’s too hot to run in the summer so I walk the same distance. That’s how I get balance out of my training.”

In 1981 at Columbia it was observed, “Alan Price left no doubt about being the master of the 100-mile walk when he opened a wide gap on the very first lap, walked some 20 miles at 10-minute mile pace and then coasted in from there in 20:21:33.” Sadly, the walking legend, 100-miler racewalking pioneer, Larry O’Neil, died that year from ALS at age 73.

In 1982, Price was invited to race against multi-day legend Don Choi (see episode 74) in an exhibition 100-mile walking match. “The race promoters figured walking a 100-miler would be a piece of cake for Choi. Price blew him away in 19:35:44.” Price said, “Well, he finished it, but he was hurting pretty bad. I asked him which he thought was harder, a six-day run or a hundred-mile walk. He replied, ‘No doubt about it, a hundred-miler!’” Price liked having one of the best runners in the sport invading his turf and come away shaking his head.

1984 American 100-mile Walking Record

In 1984, at the age of 37, Price recaptured the American 100-mile outdoor record with a time of 18:46:13 at the Columbia 100. (Larry Young had set a 100-mile indoor mark of 18:07:12 in 1971 when the Hickman track was flooded and the Columbia race was moved to Brewer Fieldhouse on a 220 yard dirt track.).

Twenty-three walkers started the 1984 race. That year it was the TAC National 100-mile walking championship. For the first time that year “pacers” were banned from the track. The cool weather was an important contributor to Price’s success, with a high in the 60s and low of 32. The ultra-racewalking community agreed that Price was the best 100-miler in this country by a wide margin.”

It was reported, “Price was only five feet seven inches tall, weighed 138 pounds at the start of his record-setting performance. He weighed 127 pounds at the finish. During the race, he consumed a quarter of a large watermelon, a half-gallon of apple juice, and a pint of water. There were no fat endorsement contracts from shoe companies and clothing manufacturers for racewalkers; consequently, he had to cut corners wherever possible to save money. He set his American record wearing a $1.90 pair of discounted Foot Locker shoes he picked out of a pile on a clearance sale table. Such is the humble life of a racewalker in the United States—even a champion.”

Fort Meade 100

Price was a fixture walking at the Fort Meade 100 in Maryland, competing in either the 50-miler or 100-miler for ten years or more. His best finish at Fort Meade was in 1979 with 21:09:09 in 90-degree heat. At the 1983 Fort Meade 100, he was hindered by wearing a cast on his left arm from fingertips to elbow but still finished in 23:09:33.

He had at least seven Fort Meade 100 finishes, only second to Ray Krolewicz, who commented, “Alan Price would come out every year and racewalk like a beast. He had beautiful form and never stopped. When I developed my survival shuffle, it basically was modeled after Alan. I would get behind him walking and shuffle. I knew if I could do that pace, it would carry me. Someone once told me my shuffle was a valid racewalk.”

Dan Brannen wrote, “I never fully appreciated the sheer natural beauty of flawless racewalking technique until I had the pleasure to witness Alan Price in action, side-by-side, at the 24-hour event at Fort Meade. The smooth perfection of his form was astounding, and mesmerizing. It seemed to defy the natural limitations of human two-legged fluidity of forward motion.”

A spectator who once jumped on the track to walk a few laps remembered, “The roadway was quite wide so I could walk without interfering with the competitors. But, after a lap or two, I caught up to Alan and he decided that I was not going to ‘beat’ him. I wasn’t racing but suddenly he was. I tried to increase the pace, but so did he. So, not wanting to ruin his race, I backed off, let him go, and had an even more leisurely stroll than I had planned. He was a fierce competitor, and no one was going to walk onto his course and go faster than him.”

Price Continues to Walk

In 1985, Price walked from Los Angeles, California to El Paso, Texas as part of a Mothers Against Drunk Driving March Across America. That year he won his eighth Columbia 100 in a row

In 1988 at the age of 41, he competed at Billings, Montana where he was featured in the newspaper there. He explained how mental toughness is involved in ultrarunning, “When I first step on the track, I have to make up my mind that this is where I’m going to be for the next 24 hours, through snow or rain or whatever. Otherwise, the little things get in your mind. It becomes a mental game. At the 50-mile point, people realize they have 50 miles still to go, and they have this problem or that problem. The intensity of the pain could be even worse. You’ve got to make up your mind on just how much more pain and agony you can put yourself through. At 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning boredom start setting in. A lot of runners have either dropped out or are taking a nap. Of the 50 that started, only two or three will be on the track, and it starts to get very lonely out there. I still feel I’m young enough to do it even faster. I’ve got it stuck in my mind to break the record one more time.”

1989, Price again won Columbia 100 with 19:54:11 Sadly that year he caught a cold, took cold remedies including pseudoephedrine, test positive and was suspended three months.

Price’s Walking Career

During his distinguished walking career, Price won a total of ten national titles in 100 km and 100 miles. In 1980 he was selected for the Olympic racewalking team but sadly the U.S. boycotted the Moscow games that year. He finished at least thirty 100-milers and his last known sub-24-hour 100 occurred in 1995 at the Howard County Striders 100, at Ellicott City, Maryland. He continued competing at shorter racewalking competitions through at least 1999. He put a lot of his efforts back into the sport by teaching many walking clinics in the Washington D.C. area. Sadly, Alan Price passed away in 2015 at the age of 68

“He may have been unheralded outside our sport but his place amongst the greatest long distance walking exponents is guaranteed. His string of 24 centurion qualifiers in 17 years and his American records put him head and shoulders above those of us who dabble around the edges of this most demanding sport.”

He was remembered as a fierce competitor with a contagious smile. One fellow walker wrote, “He clearly was by far the best long distance walker ever. I can still see him sleep walking and then waking up and accelerating by me, leaving me in the cinders! But even more than that he was a warm, wonderful spirit. He touched many people.”

On the news of his death, one runner, Kathy Good of Woodbridge, Virginia, wrote a memorial, “Alan, You were very encouraging to the little girl wanting to run in the men’s races. Thru the years you were so very positive to everyone, walkers and runners alike. At a 50 miler on the track when I started going slowly, you got me through it. I just tucked in behind you and let you drag me along.”

The Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) 100s

In 1972 a British association was founded, The Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA), with 355 members, growing to 7,000. They defined a “long distance walk” as any walk of 20 miles or more. Local groups were created, a journal called Strider published, and group walking events were created also referred to as “social events.” Formal “challenge events” were established that were up to 100 miles. These events were marshaled with checkpoints to ensure walkers were following the route. Walkers registered for these events, finish times were published, but “winners” were not emphasized or awarded.

Starting in 1973, annual LDWA “Hundred” events were hosted each year at different locations. These challenging off-road walks were hikes that did not have to walked according to racewalking rules. Participants who wanted to run started about six hours after the walkers. There was a 48-hour finishing cutoff time to reach 100 miles.

The first LDWA Hundred in 1973 was the Downsman Hundred held starting in Winchester, England, on the British bank holiday and was a great success. “The two main factors that contributed to its success were the way in which the checkpoint officials rose to the occasion and the fine weather during and before the event. For a large number of walkers anything over the 50-mile mark was unknown territory as was the actual walking surface. For so many people to complete the test was a mass achievement rarely seen.” 123 walkers/runners started and 66 finished. Only eight of the participants had finished a 100-miler before. The first finisher was David Rosen from Stanmore, England with a 100-mile time of 22:20. His 18-year-old brother also finished in 33:17. The average age of the finishers was 38 years old. Yes, before Gordy Ainsleigh did his “100-mile” trail run on the Western States Trail, hundreds were already running and hiking 100 miles and other distances on trails with significant climbs in the UK.

Stewart Dutfield who was there, added these memories. “Event organizer was Alan Blatchford, a respected ultra athlete of the time and a pioneer of our sport. He and Chris Steer were instrumental in founding the LDWA, and both have places named after them along the North Downs Way. From the event report: ‘Now that the barrier is down perhaps we may see this inaugural ultra-long distance walk as the forerunner of many more.’ Lastly: every ultrarunner, usually more than once, has stood at the start line of something bigger than they have ever done before. On that morning in Winchester, 115 of the 123 starters were taking that leap into the unknown. I shall never forget what it was like to be there.”

The 1978 Cleveland Hundred

By 1978 the LDWA 100-mile events were well established. On May 27-29, 1978, the LDWA 100-miler was held from Scarborough to Malton, England. It was called the “Cleveland Hundred” and held on a traditional Spring Bank Holiday. This route had been used before, in 1976, and the 1978 event was recognized as being the toughest LDWA 100 up to that point, not only because the course was tough, but also because of the weather. Fewer walkers showed up than usual, but there were still 212 starters included 26 runners. To put on the event required well over 100 volunteers and the cooperation from various agencies.

There were sixteen checkpoints along the way, including one major rest stop at mile 64, Fangdale Beck. Times were meticulously recorded for each participant. Many walkers, in over their heads, did “retire” along the way. There were several very difficult sections. “The Official found the stage to Gribdale, up to Drove Road and possibly out of Bransdale the toughest, yet there were few retirements at these. Obviously, our drinks point at Wheat Beck after Fangdale paid dividends.”

At the major rest stop at Fangdale Beck, mile 64, walkers were not allowed to stay there for more than two hours and all who arrived there met that cutoff. The first finishers were Roger Baumeister and Brian Harney who came in at 21:16, both members of the Dark Peak Fell Runners. Frank Thomas was third with 22:44. The first walker and 11^th overall was Martyn Greaves in 31:32. In all, 111 runners/walkers reached 100 miles, the last arriving at 47:14.

One walker, Peter Parker wrote a letter of thanks to the LDWA staff that included, “The pains have left my feet and I’m writing to tell you how very much I enjoyed this year’s Cleveland Hundred. As I climbed up Baysdale, I was aware of a feeling of supreme happiness. I cannot ever recall such blessedness as in the superb dawn in that beautiful place. For me, C100 1978 will have the fondest memories in my life and I want to thank you and your team for making them possible.”

The 1979 Dartmoor Hundred

In 1979, the LDWA 100-miler was at Dartmoor. A record 275 runners and walkers entered. A ten-page booklet of directions were given to the entrants. “That it was a physically tough course there can be little doubt when one realizes that of every two starters on failed to finish. It must be mentioned that about half the retirements came from one overall group, the Royal Air Force, whose members were perhaps not quite prepared for the rugged terrain.” But there were also some veterans 100-milers, including four who had seven yearly LDWA 100 finishes. The oldest finisher was 69 and the youngest was about 19.

“After a slight delay waiting for the Deputy Lord Mayor, the walkers were loaded onto the double deck buses for transportation to the start at Cadover Bridge several miles away. The steady drizzle and mist looked at little ominous and just about everyone donned full rain gear. Once out of the busses the gaudily clothed crowd listened to a few words of advice from the starter and then at 12:15 p.m. they set off on a giant anti-clockwise circuit of the Moor.”

Things didn’t start out smoothly as the crowd went a bit off course on the first hill and then screeched to a stop at a waterfilled trench of unknown depth. “Where the bridge mentioned in the route notes was nobody knew. After various sorties to left and right, long jumping skills were tested with the result that most people prematurely wetted either one foot or both or in some cases a more extensive area.”

Gradually the walkers were strung out over many miles. After only ten miles, some quit. Once the evening dusk approached, many called it a day. The runners started about six hours after the walkers and caught up to the pack during the night. Navigation problems were many. “At one stage about twenty walkers were struggling through bog and tussock grass searching in vain for the path alongside the River Plym. Eventually some decided to bed down until daylight. Others thrashed about in aimless circles and a few went on to find the ford to Cadover Bridge.”

A well-earned meal was waiting for the finishers as they arrived. The first two runners were Keith Arnold and Roger Baumeister in 20:30. About half hour later the first walkers arrived with a total time of 27:11. Three other runners finished in less than 24 hours.

Sandra Brown from the UK, who has finished more than 200 100-milers and dozens of LDWA walks commented,

“Some of these LDWA runners and walkers are, year after year, completing 100 miles or more, largely off-road, usually with thousands of feet of climb over often quite remote hills and mountains, and with route-finding on the UK’s quite complex historic footpaths network, in around 24 hours. Events like the LDWA’s annual 100 and other distances (50 miles, 100 km) have since the 1970s been the precursor of today’s popular trail runs. In 2022 the LDWA will celebrate its 50^th anniversary.”

The LDWA Hundred has continued annually to present-day with up to 500 participants each year and an average finish rate of 70%. Only two years were cancelled, 2001, because of foot and mouth disease in the countryside, and in 2020 because of COVID-19.

The parts of this 100-mile series:

Sources:

Alan Price – Centurion Legend
The Washington Post, May 15, 1980, “Alan Price: One Fine Walker”
Los Angeles Times, June 29, 1989
Centurion Footnotes, Jan 2015
United States Centurion Walkers
Lancaster New Era (Pennsylvania), Aug 6, 1979
The Billings Gazette (Montana), Sep 16, 1988
The Long Distance Walkers Association
LDWA 100s Archives – Route, Results and Certificates
Interview with Ray Krolewicz, Mar 24, 2021
Chula Vista Star-News (California), Apr 20, 1978

77: The 100-miler: Part 24 (1978-1979) Alan Price – Ultrawalker

By Davy Crockett