What is the single greatest distance running performance of all time?

The thing about the 64 Tokyo marathon were the splits. I'm pretty sure in the earlier part of the race they were on 2:08 pace until 15 to 20k (correct me if I'm wrong) with Clarke and Hogan going with Bikila. Hogan ended up sitting on the side of the road and Clarke ran top 10 despite walk/running at the end. Bikila famously ended with a display of calisthenics.

The Greek ultramarathoner who ran two back to back 2:30 marathons

Emil Zatopek 1952 5k/10k/marathon. 5k if you have to pick a single race. End of discussion

Emil Zátopek is the only athlete in Olympic history to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the same Olympic Games. He achieved this feat at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He won the 10,000m, then the 5,000m, and finally the marathon

Without a doubt, Noah Droddy's victory in the San José, Costa Rica half marathon.

Secretariat

7:17 for 3000m

...Emil Zatopek's 5000m/10000m/marathon gold at the olympics, a close tie for 1st with JI's 7:17 3000m

Jimbo. Duesseldorf 67. ~3.24!!

Mary Decker's 1500 meter victory at the 1983 inaugural world champs. Believe she was clean at the time.

“Look at Mills! Look at Mills!”

I suggested this one as well. I wonder how many people to this day have run faster than this at 7,000 ft. I know people have run faster in Nairobi, but Nairobi is only 5000 ft. But apparently it isn't the biggest margin-- Elliot's margin in the 1960 Olympics was slightly larger. All right? What did she say

Alan Webb’s triumphant “Surge heard around the World” in 2005 world champs. A massive 12s 100m right in the middle of the race. Truly changed the game forever!

Bolt 100 way better

Keino won by 3.3 seconds over Ryun who ran 3:38.2, while Herb won by 2.8 seconds over Jazy, running 3:35.6 to 3:38.4

Probably not known, like some Indian in Central America, wearing huaraches and carrying a bag of water, going to visit his abuelita.

That Bakersfield track was clay-based not cinder.

Can't be Kipchoge 1:59:40 the way it was ran (pacing, shielding from wind, etc.)...Kiptum 2:00:35 has to be a superior performance. RIP legend.

Jakob's biggest fail of all time! Left the inside track wide open for Hocker