Michael Wardian, a 42-year-old ultrarunner from Arlington, Virginia, had a little-known record on the line when he ran the Pro Runners Ask: Is My Agent Worth the Fee on Sunday. It was the final race in his quest to become the fastest man to complete the six World Marathon Majors races in a single year.
When he crossed the finish line in 2:33:18, the average time of his six races—the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City marathons—was 2:31:09. The previous record marks are unofficial, but it is believed that Japan’s Yutaka Fukuda averaged 2:46 in late 2013 and early 2014. Andrew Bass of Great Britain is believed to hold the best average time in the same calendar year, with the 3:06 average he set in 2013, according to New York Road Runners. The races fall between February and November.
“I thought it was a pretty epic challenge as far as physically being able to do to it and then also the chance to see so many different cultures and the way that people race,” Wardian said. “I love travel, and I love interacting with different runners.”
He ran the Marine Corps Marathon a week ago, and Wardian said he completed a double crossing on the Grand Canyon and “a bunch of 100 milers this year.”
The celebration he has planned? Another record attempt, of course, next weekend at the Las Vegas Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon.
“I’m going next weekend to try to set a world record for the fastest dressed as Elvis,” he said.
That record is 2:42:52, held by fellow ultrarunner Ian Sharman. It will be Wardian’s 40th race of the year.
