On a cold windy morning [January 4, 2003] Walt Washburn [80] of Vienna, VA burned up the previous national 80-84 age-group record for 20 Miles, running 3:30:23. The mark had been a longstanding [since 1979] record 4:18:00, set by Ivor Welch of Clarksburg, CA. Last fall [9/29/02] Walt, who turned 80 on 10/12/02, blazed the DCRRC National Capital 20 Miler in 3:22:23. No 79-year-old is listed for the 30K record.

Walt's pace for the 20-mile run in 3:is 10:31 per mile. The 80 & over 30K [18.64 miles] record is 3:47:53 so Walt clearly surpassed that as well. The record for 25K [15.53 miles] is 2:23:43. Walt ran 2:41:58 last march at the DCRRC Bellehaven 25K [10:25] per mile.

At 80, Ed Benham of Ocean City, MD ran an unbelievable 3:43:27 [8:31 per mile] at the Twin Cities Marathon but the time is listed as aided so the official 80-84 age group record was set by Benham when he was eighty-four at 4:17:51 [9:50 per mile]. Last year Walt ran the Houston Marathon in 4:20:47 [9:57 per mile]. Benham holds the 79-year-old record in 3:49:23. Bill Brobston of Saugerties, NY, officially of 4:28:01 holds the single age 80-year-old record. Walt has plans to return to Houston this year to race the marathon.

For the shorter distances, Benham who ran until he was eighty-four left records that are mostly untouchable. Benham's last 30K was a 2:28:00 [7:56 per mile] at age 78.Warren Utes of Park Forest, IL is Benham's heir with a pending 2:05:44 [8:06 per mile] at the 25K at age 80.

Race	Time		Pace	Age
HM	1:40:53	7:42	80
HM	1:40:30	7:40	81
20K 	1:37:49	7:52	80
20K	1:33:56	7:33	81	
10M	1:15:01	7:30	80*	Warren Utes
10M	1:13:23	7:20	81