A few weeks ago, David Deubelbeiss of Canada set a 24 hour treadmill world record by running 130.82 miles. The entire run was filmed on video and each mile split was recorded so that it would be easier to apply for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Good documentation is required to apply for a record. Recently, Guinness sent me several pages of forms so that my record of 40 marathon victories might be included in their publications. It would require that I find published accounts of each of my victories. Fortunately, I've kept all of my news clippings. The list of victories brought up all kinds of memories, some that I would like to share with you.

The 1979 West Bloomfield Marathon was my first victory. It was actually run entirely on Belle Isle. Jon Cross, now the Honolulu Marathon race director, made a bold early move and had a substantial lead. I was married then and told my wife "not to worry I'll catch him on the next lap". Sure enough Jon ran out of gas and I reversed to lead.

Two years later, I won the first of three Mardi Gras Marathons in New Orleans. Twenty two miles of this course ran across the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge. If the wind was blowing behind you it was a very fast course. In 1981, the wind was in our face. A group of eight formed a single file formation and took turns breaking the wind. All except one runner, and he kept clipping the heals of Barney Klecker, a big tall runner. After several clips Barney turned to him and said, "You do that one more time mister and I'm throwing you over the bridge." My 2:33 was one of my slowest wins. I came back the next year and set my personal best of 2:13:34, while running the entire race all alone.

Seattle was another successful venue for me. I won it five straight years from 1985 to 1989. The first two were most memorable because each time, a runner pulled far ahead of me to the point that I couldn't see them. I reconciled to finish second both times only to recapture the lead at the exact same spot along Puget Sound.

Barcelona was a special victory for me because Dr. Andy Rodriquez, the former medical director of the New York City Marathon, invited me as his guest. We arrived a few days early and I practiced on the last five miles of the course. The course was a bit tricky and being familiar with it paid off. I made a move on two European runners on a downhill at mile 25. They tried to recover but it was too late. I won by six seconds.

In the 1990 Yonkers Marathon, I was determined to collect on a big bonus for breaking the course record. I struggled through the first half and the lead runner pulled so far ahead we couldn't see the lead vehicle. Following another runner, we went off course. Luckily, I stayed with some local friends who gave me a course tour the day before and realized we were off track. I turned around in time to keep second place. At mile 22 a crowd of people yelled at me saying I could catch the leader because he was walking. Sure enough, the leader was cramped up and I went on to win, minus the bonus though.

At age 42, I didn't think I had a chance of winning the Grandmas Marathon in Duluth a second time. One of New Zealand's star runners, Seam Wade, went off at a blistering pace to try to qualify for his Olympic Team. At mile 17, I broke from a large pack of runners because I thought Sean's inexperience would cost him. My intuition was right and I passed him at the 24 mile mark. I was shocked when the dejected Wade walked straight to his hotel from where I passed him.

I won the Detroit Free Press Marathon more than any other marathon. Six times straight from 1987 to 1992 I grabbed the winning finish tape. One of the most memorable was the year Mazda brought in a Japanese runner whom I dueled through 17 miles. My mother was waiting at mile 18 with a container of defizzed pop. Wanting to show her I was in control of the race, I put a move on Wataru Adachi. Still, I thought he would close the gap. Instead he just let me go and the race was over.

Last year at age 50, I decided to go after one more victory. Make it an even 40. Although the Whidbey Island Race was a small event, the beauty and glamour of this little island outside of Seattle was worth the trip and an addition for the Guinness's record book.