Never knew Art ran 211 in Boston, which is something like 209 on a good course and a 207 with the shoes. arguably.
Art Boileau — Career Summary
Full Name: Arthur “Art” Boileau
Born: October 9, 1957 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Nationality: Canadian
Sport: Long-distance running (10,000 m to marathon)
College Team: University of Oregon Ducks (track & cross-country)
Art Boileau is one of Canada’s most accomplished long-distance runners from the 1980s, best known for his marathon success, Olympic appearances, and his time competing collegiately at the University of Oregon.
🥇 Olympic Representation
Boileau represented Team Canada in two Summer Olympics in the men’s marathon:
1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles — Finished 44th.
1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul — Finished 28th.
While he did not medal, competing in two consecutive Olympics is a major achievement in international distance running.
🏃♂️ Marathon Highlights
Boileau competed in many major marathons worldwide with several standout performances:
Los Angeles Marathon
Winner – 1987 — 2:13:08.
Winner – 1989 — 2:13:01.
Winning the Los Angeles Marathon twice is among his signature career accomplishments and a highlight of his competitive résumé.
Boston Marathon
2nd Place – 1986 — 2:11:15 (his best marathon time).
Other Major Marathon Results
World Championships, Helsinki – 1983 — 11th in 2:11:30.
Commonwealth Games – 1986 — 5th in 2:12:58.
Boileau was consistently competitive at the world level, often finishing near the front against strong international fields.
📊 Official Personal Best Times
Below are Boileau’s best recorded performances across a range of distances (road and track):
Marathon
2:11:15 – Boston Marathon, USA (1986) — personal best.
Half Marathon
1:03:43 – Orlando, FL, USA (1986).
20 km
1:01:46 – St Gabriel de Brandon, PQ, CAN (1989).
25 km
1:16:10 – Eugene, OR, USA (1985).
10 km
29:10 – Vancouver, BC, CAN (1991).
5 km (road)
17:27 – Vancouver, BC, CAN (2005).
Note: Some track bests (e.g., 5 km faster times from track competitions) also appear in historical performance records but these represent his most prominent road and recorded race bests on official marathon and longer distances.
🏫 University of Oregon Connection
Boileau competed collegiately for the University of Oregon, one of the premier distance-running programs in the U.S. Known for its strong tradition in track and cross-country, Oregon provided a formative competitive environment that helped launch Boileau’s international running career. His time in Eugene connected him to one of the sport’s most storied training communities.
📌 Summary of Achievements
Canadian Olympian — Marathon (1984, 1988).
Los Angeles Marathon Champion — 1987 & 1989.
Boston Marathon Runner-Up — 1986 (2:11:15 PB).
World Championship Top-15 — 1983 (11th).
Commonwealth Games Top-5 — 1986 (5th).
Competed for University of Oregon — key part of collegiate development.