Charleston Distance Run
The Charleston Distance Run is a 15-mile (24 km) road running event held annually in Charleston, West Virginia. The race starts in front of the West Virginia State Capitol on the Kanawha Boulevard. The course starts on the flats of the Boulevard before going across the South Side Bridge and up Corridor G, a hill named Capital Hill Punishment for its nearly 2-mile (3 km) uphill length. The course winds through Charleston's South Hills for 3 miles (5 km) before crossing back over the South Side Bridge. The final 7 miles (11 km) are flat; runners go past the West Virginia State Capitol, along the Kanawha River, before finishing at Laidley Field.
History
The race was started in 1973 by Don Cohen, an eye doctor in Charleston. Cohen wanted to create a race that coincided with the annual Sternwheel Regatta, so he teamed up with city leaders and police to find a route.
The race ended up being 15 miles (24 km) quite by accident, as Cohen's main focus was to orientate the race around some of Charleston's most famous landmarks, such as the State Capitol, the Kanawha riverbank, the East End, West Side, and South Hills. Though the Sternwheel Regatta retired in 2008, the Distance Run continues as an independent event. To this day, it is America's only 15-mile distance run.
Past Overall Winners
| Year | Name | Club/Hometown | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Jeff Galloway | Florida Track Club | 1:16:29 |
| 1974 | Philip Ndoo | Eastern New Mexico University | 1:18:03 |
| 1975 | John Vitale | No data | 1:17:02 |
| 1976 | Frank Shorter | Independent | 1:14:37 |
| 1977 | William R. Haviland | Ohio | 1:16:42 |
| 1978 | William R. Haviland | Athens, Ohio | 1:14:26 |
| 1979 | Robert V. Perkins | Greensboro, North Carolina | 1:17:37 |
| 1980 | William R. Haviland | Athens, Ohio | 1:15:12 |
| 1981 | Terry Baker | No data | 1:15:43 |
| 1982 | Terry Baker | No data | 1:14:15 |
| 1983 | Mark S. Stickley | Blacksburg, Virginia | 1:14:02 |
| 1984 | Mark S. Stickley | Blacksburg, Virginia | 1:14:33 |
| 1985 | Steve G. Taylor | No data | 1:16:25 |
| 1986 | Don L. Norman | No data | 1:13:54 |
| 1987 | Steve G. Taylor | No data | 1:14:31 |
| 1988 | Don L. Norman | No data | 1:15:52 |
| 1989 | Steve G. Taylor | No data | 1:15:27 |
| 1990 | Mark L. Curp | No data | 1:13:47 |
| 1991 | Mark L. Curp | No data | 1:16:50 |
| 1992 | Mark L. Curp | No data | 1:15:40 |
| 1993 | Ed Eyestone | No data | 1:14:52 |
| 1994 | Gideon M. Mutisya | No data | 1:13:38 |
| 1995 | Gideon M. Mutisya | No data | 1:12:55 |
| 1996 | Gideon M. Mutisya | New Milford, Connecticut | 1:12:24 |
| 1997 | Gideon M. Mutisya | Incline Village, Nevada | 1:16:34 |
| 1998 | Andrew Musuva | Farmington, Minnesota | 1:14:01 |
| 1999 | Simon Sawe | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1:14:53 |
| 2000 | Gideon M. Mutisya | Hartford, Connecticut | 1:15:30 |
| 2001 | Wilson Onscare | West Chester, Pennsylvania | 1:14:47 |
| 2002 | Zabloh Mokaya | Kennesaw, Georgia | 1:15:07 |
| 2003 | Hillary Lelei | Cary, North Carolina | 1:16:06 |
| 2004 | Douglas Momanyi | West Chester, Pennsylvania | 1:17:08 |
| 2005 | Francis Bowen | West Chester, Pennsylvania | 1:15:31 |
| 2006 | Jacob Yator | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 1:15:21 |
| 2007 | Tesfaye Girma | West Chester, Pennsylvania | 1:16:26 |
| 2008 | Gideon M. Mutisya | Hartford, Connecticut | 1:22:48 |
| 2009 | Kipyegon Kirui | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 1:14:55 |
| 2010 | Jason Pyles | South Charleston, West Virginia | 1:25:44 |
| 2011 | Joe Moore | Raleigh, North Carolina | 1:20:12 |
| 2012 | Jeff Weiss | Ravenswood, West Virginia | 1:21:14 |
| 2013 | Kiprono Kurgat | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 1:16:29 |
| 2014 | Jeff Weiss | Ravenswood, West Virginia | 1:22:36 |
| 2015 | Brian Moresman | No data | 1:22:13 |
| 2016 | Juris Silenieks | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1:21:42 |
| 2017 | Jason Pyles | Elkins, West Virginia | 1:31:48 |
| 2018 | Bryan Morseman | Bath, New York | 1:23:45 |