Alfred Shrubb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alfred (Alfie) Shrubb (1879–1964) was an English middle distance runner. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 (when he was barred from amateur competition for receiving payment for running) and a professional career from 1905 to 1912 he won over 1,000 races of about 1,800 started. At the peak of his career he was virtually unbeatable at distances up to 15 miles, often racing against relay teams so that the race would be more competitive. On November 4, 1904, at Ibrox Park, Glasgow, he broke the one-hour record as well as all amateur records from six to eleven miles, and all professional records from eight to eleven miles, running eleven miles, 1,137 yards in one hour. This record was not broken until 1951. Altogether he set 28 world records.
He raced ten times against the great marathoner Tom Longboat, winning all the races shorter than 20 miles and losing all the longer races.
In 1908 he became coach of the Harvard University cross-country team, leading it to a national title. From 1919 to 1928 he coached the Oxford University Athletics Club.
In 1928 Alfred made his home permanently in Canada. He passed away in Bowmanville, Ontario in 1964 and is commemorated by the annual Alfie Shrubb Museum Run in Bowmanville.
