Ed Whitlock Has Died - Rest in Peace

He merely produced impressive athletic performances, at ages when many people are impaired or dead, without ego or agenda, but with self-imposed simplicity.

Let us carry on in his stead.

Brojos: Can you add this picture to your article? Seems better than having the same picture twice, and it's a beautiful picture of younger Ed racing (and from my guess based on the strides, also a pic of Ed winning).

To paraphrase a Monty Python line: "'E's not restin', 'e's dead!" Ed Whitlock has died, and he's not "resting," in peace or otherwise. His memory rests in our minds: a humble and joyous competitor who helped expand our notion of the possible.

Condolences to his family, friends, and many many fans.

I just read through 10 pages of tributes and perhaps there is nothing new to say, just that I add myself to those who were inspired by his determination, his humility, his simplicity, and his longevity. We should all be so lucky to live a life like Ed Whitlock. Rest In Peace, Ed.

Allen1959 wrote:

Pretzel Man wrote:

In 2000 Ed was 69 and ran a 37:00 10K and beat me by a few seconds I'll always remember that white hair. Spoke with him a few times very laid back and friendly.

That race was the first time I had ever seen Ed. He and his white hair finished nine minutes ahead of me. I've been a fan ever since. A sad day today. Very sad day.

Parkway 10K ?

I met Ed when he showed up at the Diamonds run in Berwick in '03 or so. He was already a celebrity here, do I was not the only one who wanted a word with him. Really glad I talked him into signing my meet program...and he was completely flattered and gracious about it, of course. What kind gentleman he was. I am so sorry to hear this news. RIP.

Amazing runner, and he deserves all the kudos he is getting. RIP and sympathy to his friends & family.

Nice tribute from a guy on Strava:

10 And A Vignette For Ed (requiescat in pace):

The Greatest Of All Time

Murmurs and the chink of china teacups on saucers carry from the kitchen. I stroll in. Four cups of tea are placed on the table. Next to each cup, two slices of toast - smothered in lashings of butter - wait on our best china plates.

‘What’s this?’ I ask my father. ‘I thought we were having beef stew.’

‘Call your mother and sister and tell them their dinner’s ready,’ he says, wiping his face as he sits down to the table. ‘I hope I’ve done the toast right.’

‘Have you been crying?’ I ask, sitting down next to him. ‘You don’t cry.’

‘Ed died today,’ he says slurping his tea.

‘Who’s Ed?'

‘I can’t believe he died; just like that.’ He takes a bite from his toast. Butter and crumbs cling to his lips. ‘I can see him now, smiling; his singlet hanging off his shoulder and his long white hair swirling in the wind.’

‘Oh, him, ‘ I say, dunking a torn triangle of toast in my tea. ‘Did he die running around the cemetery?’

‘What?’

‘You know, did he die running around the graves?’

He stares at me. Through me.

‘Yes.’ A smile breaks across his face. ‘Yes, he did. He’d just finished his run and he sat on a bench to look at a flower. He closed his eyes and then, gently and beautifully, he took his last breath.’

As some may have mentioned, this thread has in a way, restored faith that this online running community is worth having around. We'll always have to suffer some fools, but it's heartening to know there are so many here who were touched by a runner they never met. Would be nice if this thread could hit at least 700 posts (thereby just eeking out the # of posts on the "Is Larry Bird the greatest" thread)

RIP, An inspiration to all

Inremember first reading about Ed in runners world (or something along those lines) when I was in HS, and being blown away to see his times (this was around his 2:53 performance, too). After discovering letsrun, it was a joy to see that he occasionally posted and shared his thoughts.

He was a runner in the truest semse of the word, and just seemes like a good person full of life.

Sorry if I missed it, but anyone know how long ago he was diagnosed with cancer? Very recently, or did he just decide to not make it public (if awhile ago) ?

Rato wrote:

Sorry if I missed it, but anyone know how long ago he was diagnosed with cancer? Very recently, or did he just decide to not make it public (if awhile ago) ?

He definitely did not make it public and that is why so many of us were so surprised. He ran a marathon this fall and now is dead of cancer.

Some on this thread had speculated Ed knew he had cancer when he ran Toronto in the fall but I don't think that was the case.

I'll reach out to Jere Longman of the NY Times and see if he knows more than I do.

When I contacted Ed in January he wrote back, "I will not be running another marathon any time soon though. I have an extremely sore neck and shoulder so that i am not doing any running at the moment. Cause of problem and appropriate treatment still under investigation."

The Armory Indoor Marathon in NYC had reached out to me and asked if I had Ed's info, so I wrote him asking if he had any interest in running their race which is next week.

Sad to hear.

RIP

Ed fan wrote:

http://www.drbrd.com/images/scgs/mug_shots/ed_whitlock_1952_ic_relay2.jpg

Brojos: Can you add this picture to your article? Seems better than having the same picture twice, and it's a beautiful picture of younger Ed racing (and from my guess based on the strides, also a pic of Ed winning).

The picture is from the 1952 Hyde Park Relay in London when Ed was attending Imperial College. Alongside him is Martin Walmsley, running for Manchester University. I don't know how well Ed ran that year, but he told me once that he ran the 2nd quickest leg in 1951 to John Disley.

I believe Ed's last race was in early December at a Ranelagh Harriers mob match in Richmond Park, London. Rather fitting as he proudly wore the Ranelagh vest at many races, and Richmond Park was the home of the Imperial College cross country course.

One good thing about LetsRun: Not as is usual, the accolades and warmth for Ed often came *prior* to his passing. He was recognized and lauded while still alive, esp. when he commented here.

lovely video of Ed running fast, in his 80s

As a someone who started running seriously at 39 and racing in my 40s, Ed was truly an icon to me.

I'm shocked and saddened. Thought Ed would be racing well into his 90s. At least he was running until almost the very end. RIP Ed. Gone but never forgotton.

I met Ed at the Great Raisin River Footrace in 2008 in Williamstown, a very low-key race in a tiny village north of Cornwall, Ontario. Race organizers had invited him as a guest runner and to say a few words before the race started. Even though Ed was injured at the time and couldn't run, he made the 8-hour roundtrip drive from Milton to uphold his promise to the organizers. He talked about how much he enjoyed off-the-beaten-path races like this one, and how he liked races with a bit of a history (this was the race's 30th anniversary). He was just a very quiet, unassuming guy who like to hang out with his fellow runners.

As a couple of other people have said, Ed is literally the only person in the history of Let's Run that nobody has ever criticized.

What a legacy, and what a man.