15: Sandra Brown – 200+ 100-milers

By Davy Crockett  Both a podcast episode and a full article The 100 x 100 list now includes 21 accomplished athletes who have finished 100 or more races of 100 milers or more. This article will introduce the Sandra and Richard Brown, both on the list, and highlights their amazing 100-mile careers and some of the events in Europe unfamiliar to American ultrarunners. Sandra was the very first person in the world who finished 100 100-milers and the first to reach 200. By the end of July 2021, Sandra Brown, age 72, of England had accomplished a world-best, 208 100-milers, walking and running on tracks, roads, and trails in various event formats. About 160 of her 208 100-milers were accomplished in less than 24 hours, also a world best. Most 100-milers in the World Yes, Sandra Brown reached 100 miles 200+ times in organized events, more than anyone in the world. Ed Ettinghausen (The Jester) has been working very hard to catch up and exceed that number. (He passed that number in 2021). The World’s Greatest Sandra Brown is the world’s greatest woman ultra-distance walker ever, but she was also a world-class ultrarunner and still is for her age-group. In 2018 she was 69 years old and completed eleven 100-milers that year, including some sub-24-hour 100-milers. Her 208 100-milers came in several different types of walking and running events on tracks, roads, and trails. These types of events will be described in this article. She is the holder of current world records and it is time that the ultrarunning community learn about Sandra and her amazing accomplishments. Also on the100x100 list is Sandra’s husband, world-class runner and walker Richard Brown, who delights in being overshadowed at times by Sandra’s accomplishments. They are inseparable and have been married for nearly 50 years. Richard has finished about 140 100+ mile events. Also read about all these 19 athletes. Walking and Running Does it matter that most of Richard and Sandra’s 100-milers were performed walking? Not at all. For today’s ultrarunning events that reach 100 miles, they are “go-as-you-please.” You can walk or run, it does not matter. What matters is reaching 100 miles. World ultrarunning historian, Andy Milroy agrees, “covering a distance on foot is valid, whether walking, running or a mixture of both.” Among her 208 100s, Sandra has completed about 130 100-milers in events that were judged with racewalking rules. But she also completed 100 miles in more than 30 running events and usually she finished at the top. Other 100s were walking events where you could walk any way you wished to reach 100 miles. Piling up 100-milers while living in England is very impressive because there are far fewer events compared to the US. Sandra wrote, “I’ve always envied athletes in the USA where there are so many ultra-distance and 100 miles events! In the UK there are now several, mainly off-road, 100s, and a couple of 24-hour events. On the Continent, events are mainly 24 hours, though our Dutch and Belgian friends share our love of 100s.” Ultra Walking Before getting to Richard and Sandra’s amazing careers, it would help to understand the background of walking competitions, especially in England. Ultradistance Walking (or Ultra Walking), is the practice of walking in competitions of distances more than the marathon length. They have existed for centuries and truly have roots in 19th century Pedestrianism. “Heel and toe” walking rules were established for these foot races that became a popular wagering venue. Walking competitions were conducted for many distances short, long, ultradistances, and eventually for six days or more. By 1880 walking rules were further established and amateur competitions started to be held. In general, rules required that the walkers’ back toe could not leave the ground until the heel of the front foot has touched. Rules would change over the years.