American marathoner CJ Albertson reclaimed the world record in the 50K this weekend with a 2:38:44 effort at the Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run in San Francisco. That’s an average of 5:05 pace per mile for just over 31 miles!
The Fresno, California based runner, who is sponsored by Brooks and coaches cross country at Clovis Community College, previously set the world record in 2020 in 2:42:30, in a solo effort on a track in Fresno. Since then, several runners have improved the record, including most recently Stephen Mokoka of South Africa, who clocked 2:40:13 at the 2022 Nedbank Runified 50K in Gqeberha, South Africa.
The race in San Francisco took place on a 4.5 mile looped course, with about 150 feet of elevation gain for each lap.
The run was not a goal race, but rather a training run as he prepares for a fall marathon. The next day, according to his Strava, Albertson ran a total of 18.5 miles: 11.56 miles in the morning and 7 miles as an afternoon double.
Australian Sprinter, 16, Runs Record-Breaking 200m stunts. He is believed to own the fastest ever time for a marathon on a treadmill (2:09:58) and is the world record holder for a marathon run on an indoor track (2:17:59).
But he’s performed well in legitimate races, too, and is one of the top marathoners in the United States. This year, he was 13th at the Boston Marathon in 2:10:23, a personal best, and followed that up with a 2:10:52 fifth-place finish at Grandma’s Marathon in June. He was seventh at the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon.
Johanna Gretschel is a freelance writer and broadcaster living in Austin, Texas, who has covered elite track and field and running in all its forms. She contributes to Runner’s World, ESPN, Austin American-Statesman, FloTrack, MileSplit, Women’s Running and Podium Runner. Yes, she has run a marathon!
