Alfred Shrubb

Who was Alfred Shrubb?

Alfred "Alfie" Shrubb was an English middle and long distance runner. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 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 run 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. 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 died in Bowmanville, Ontario in 1964 and is commemorated by the annual Alfie Shrubb Museum Run in Bowmanville.