Amby Burfoot

Amby Burfoot is a former American marathoner and long-distance runner who became a prominent figure in the running community. He won the Boston Marathon in 1968 at the age of 21.12 After his competitive running career, Burfoot joined Runner's World magazine, where he served in several editorial roles.13

Professional Career in Running Journalism

Burfoot's career at Runner's World began in 1978 when he was hired as the East Coast Editor. In 1985, when the magazine was bought by Rodale, Inc., he was named Executive Editor.13 He spent 25 years at the magazine before retiring in 2012, and currently serves as editor-at-large.3

Running Achievements and Background

Early Running Years:

• Grew up in Groton, Connecticut
• Trained under high school coach John J. Kelley, a 1957 Boston Marathon winner
• Ran competitively during his years at Wesleyan University
• Peaked competitive years were between 1966 and 19762

Notable Accomplishments:

• Winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon (time: 2:22:17)1
• Personal best marathon time of 2:14::no-wrap[293]
• Completed 57 consecutive Manchester Road Races3

Writing and Publications

Burfoot has authored several books about running, including:

• Runner's World Complete Book of Running (1999)
• The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life (2000)
• First Ladies of Running (2016)
• Run Forever (2018)1

As of 2019, Burfoot was 73 years old and continued to run, living in Mystic, CT.3