American runner Charlie Lawrence recently set a pending world record for the 50-mile distance at the Tunnel Hill 50 ultramarathon in Vienna, Illinois. Averaging an astonishing 5:46 per-mile pace, Lawrence finished the course in 4:48:21, surpassing the previous record set by Jim Walmsley. This achievement follows Lawrence’s exploration of distances beyond the traditional marathon, inspired by advice and encouragement from established marathoners and ultrarunners.
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Key Points:Â
- Record-Breaking Performance: Charlie Lawrence broke the 50-mile world record with a time of 4:48:21 at the Tunnel Hill 50 ultramarathon, wearing Nike Alphafly 2s and maintaining a pace of 5:46 per mile.
- Marathon Background: Lawrence, who had been focusing on marathons, including qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials, transitioned to ultramarathon running, inspired by marathon champions Des Linden and Fernando Cabada.
- Training and Preparation: Lawrence’s training involved high mileage and intense workouts, with a peak of 145 miles in one week. He also underwent extensive treatments for a sacral stress fracture in 2022, which temporarily halted his racing.
- Inspirational Figures: Influential runners like Des Linden, who Lawrence paced in a 50K world record attempt, played a significant role in his shift to ultrarunning.
- Future in Ultrarunning: Unlike many marathon runners who turn to trail ultras, Lawrence is interested in flat, fast ultras that extend the quick stride turnover of marathons. His success suggests a potential new direction in his running career.
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Source: 50-mile-world-recordÂ
