There is no such thing as the greatest distance runner or just runner of all time. There are way to many distances to say that. For example there is the mile or the 1500, the 10k, marathon, ultra-marathon etc. How could Paula Radcliffe be considered the greatest ever? What about Ann Trason? She has dominated every distance beyond the 26.2 miler with world championships and world records. How could you compare Scott Jurek or Uli Stiedel with Paul Tergat or Haile G? Worlds apart from each other. Or Tergat to Hicham ElG? Or Viren and Zatopek against Tergat and Bekele? They are all great runners but not is the greatest.