Ultrarunning legend, Ray Scannell (1949-2024) passed away on May 13, 2024. Ray was originally from Massachusetts, and played ice hockey at Boston College, but later traded his skates in for running shoes. In 1976, he joined in with a local running group, learned how to run and lost about 40 pounds. He finished the 1978 Boston Marathon in 2:36:48. He ran his first ultra in 1981, the Nickel City 50, in Buffalo, NY. He finished in 2nd with of time of 5:36:42. He was known to do long runs such as a 60-mile run to Worcester and back.
In 1982, Ray went to Lake Waramaug to run against some of the best ultrarunners in the country. He didn’t have the highest expectations because he had not fully recovered from running a 2:28 at the Boston Marathon just 13 days earlier. He said, “I entered confidently, figuring to finish in the top ten. Nevertheless, I had some misgivings. But by the marathon point (2:37) I felt very smooth and moved easily beyond Stu Mittleman (1951-) and then George Gardiner (1942-).” (Nick Marshall, 1982 Ultradistance Summary, 26). Ray went on to win the 50-miler in 5:17:14.
For most elite ultrarunners, as they reach their mid-40s, their competitive years are mostly behind them. But for Ted Corbitt, his best years were still ahead of him, as he would become a national champion and set multiple American ultrarunning records. Read/Listen to 
After Ted Corbitt’s disappointing 1952 Olympic marathon, he was determined to continue running. (
The Astley Belt was the most sought-after trophy in ultrarunning or pedestrianism. This race series was recognized as the undisputed international six-day championship of the world. The international six-day race series was established in 1878 by Sir John Astley, a wealthy sportsman and member of the British parliament. Daniel O’Leary won the first two races and then lost the coveted belt to Charles Rowell of England at the 
The Barkley Marathons course (thought to be roughly 130 miles and about 63,000 feet of elevation gain) at Frozen Head State Park was the brain child of 
From 1875 to 1879, at least 130 six-day races were held, mostly in America and Great Britain. In 1879, the foot races became the #1 spectator sport in America. During that single year, at least 88 six-day races were held worldwide, with about 900 starters and witnessed by nearly one million spectators. Women played a significant role in these early six-day races, a century before they could take part in marathons. From 1875 to 1879, at least 30 six-day women’s races were held, involving 150 women starters who ran as far as 393 miles in six days. These daring women athletes caused a significant rift across the Victorian-era society. An editorial in the New York Times stated, “Today it is the walking match, soon the women’s vote will come.” It isn’t surprising that once the women competed, that New York City considered passing an ordinance banning “all public exhibitions of female pedestrianism.”