Three-Legged Running World Records

Three-legged running involves two runners who are tied together: The left leg of one runner is tied to the right leg of the other runner. Until the International Amateur Athletics Federation standardised track and field world record categories, records were officially verified by national athletics organizations. More recently, such categories are rather considered as fun events.

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The Rules

(If you want to break a record that is published in a record book or governed by an international authority, there may be other or additional rules. See here for more information.)
  1. This record is for running  given distance by a pair of two runners who are tied together at one foot.
  2. For the sprint distances, competitors must be tied securely together at the thighs and ankles of one leg each. The fastenings at the thighs to be such as to keep them practically in contact. At the ankles there, may be an interval not exceeding 4 inches. For longer distances, the competitors must be tied at the ankles only.
  3. Competitors must finish with fastenings intact.
  4. A course measuremet protocol should be provided. Marathon and half-Marathon records have to be set in an organised official race.
 world record holders for 24 hr three-legged running: Mark Howlett (left) and Rab Lee (right)
109.8 km three-legged in 24 hours:
Mark Howlett (left) and Rab Lee (right)

50 YARDS

7 1/2 sec
 W. D. and G. H. Preston (USA)
 25 March 1882 in New York
6 3/4 sec
 C S. Busse and C. L. Jacquelin (USA) 13 December 1889 in New York
6 2/5 sec
 C. S. Busse and H. H. Morrell (USA) 7 September 1891 in West New Brighton
6 sec
6 sec
 Craig Barrow and F. C. Ferrell (USA)
Harry L. Hillman and Lawson Robertson (USA) 		16 May 1895 at the Games of the University of Georgia
11 November 1905 in New York at the Games of the 13th Regiment Heavy Artillery Athletics Association

50 METRES, MEN

6.6 sec
 Dirk Lübeck and Thomas Raabe (German Democratic Republic) 6 April 1986 in Berlin

50 METRES, WOMEN

8.0 sec
 Sabine Roos and Gritta Zölfel (German Democratic Republic) 6 April 1986 in Berlin

60 YARDS

8 sec
 C. S. Busse and C. S. Jacquelin (USA) 16 December 1890 in New York
7 2/5 sec
 William S. Edwards and Phillip A. Sayles (USA) 15 January 1903 at the Games of the Ninth Regiment Athletic Association in New York
7 1/5 sec
 Harry L. Hillman and Lawson Robertson (USA) 11 November 1905 in New York at the Games of the 13th Regiment Heavy Artillery Athletics Association

100 YARDS

12 1/2 sec
 T A. Bertram and H. Pirie (USA) 16 October 1883 in Kingston
12 2/5 sec
 C. S. Busse and H. H. Morrell (USA) 7 September 1891 in West New Brighton
12 sec
 William S. Edwards and Phillip A.Sayles (USA) 11 August 1903 at the Games of the Spanish War Veterans in Bergen Beach
11 2/5 sec
 Harry L. Hillman and Lawson Robertson (USA) 30 September 1905 in New York
11 sec
 Harry L. Hillman and Lawson Robertson (USA) 24 April 1909 in Brooklyn, New York

110 YARDS / 100 METRES

18 1/5 sec*
 W. D. and G. H. Preston (USA) 29 May 1882 in New York
14 4/5 sec*
 W. H. Luddington and C. H. Sherrill (USA) 3 June 1887 in New Haven, Conn.
12 4/5 sec
 E. Schultze and E. Wernicke (GER)
 15 August 1897 in Berlin
12 3/5 sec*
 Harry L. Hillman and Lawson Robertson (USA)
(in the same race, they ran 120 yards in 14 seconds, which was regarded as a world record as well in absence of any other validated performance)
 17 November 1906 in New Yorkat the Games of the 13th Regiment Coast Artillery Athletics Association
* 110 Yards = 100.58 m

220 YARDS / 200 METRES

35 sec*
 C. J. Frye and J. N. Smith
 13 May 1881 in New York
* 220 Yards = 201.1 m

400 METRES

1:22.2 min
 Emanuel Cerny und Josef Bohman (TCH)
 1984 in Prievidza

1 MILE

7:50 min
 Casey Williams and Mike Price (USA)
 5 October 2013

5 KM

19:06 min
 Damian Thacker and Luke Symonds (GBR) 9 April 2016, Hillsborough Parkrun, Sheffield, UK

HALF-MARATHON

1:37:53 hr
 Alastair and Nick Benbow (GBR)
 2 March 2003, London Half Marathon
1:30:32 hr
 Damian Thacker and Luke Symonds (GBR) 24 April 2016, London Marathon (half marathon split time)

MARATHON

3:58:33 hr
 Dale Lyons and David Pettifer (GBR) 2 April 1995, London Marathon
3:40:16 hr
 Alastair and Nick Benbow (GBR) 26 April 1998, London Marathon
3:07:57 hr
 Damian Thacker and Luke Symonds (GBR) 24 April 2016, London Marathon

MARATHON (WOMEN)

4:45:21 hr
 Debbie Leeland and Paula Marshall (GBR) 26 April 2015, London Marathon
3:47:19 hr
 Sarah Dudgeon and Victoria Carter (GBR)
 24 April 2016, London Marathon

12 HOURS

64.4 km
[40.0 mi]
 Charlie Wardle and Steve Burnett (GBR) 26 June 2009 in Milton Keynes
66.02 km [41.02 mi]
 Tom Vanhinsbergh and Ben Le Beau (GBR) VIDEO
 8 April 2012 in Crawley, West Sussex
68.8 km
[42.75 mi]
  Simon Ashton and Gary Hooson (GBR)

 26 July 2011 in Plymouth
71.492 km
[44.423 mi]
 Gary Shaughnessy and Andy Tucker (GBR)
 9/10 October 2021 at Silchester Playing Field, Silchester, Reading, UK
(not yet fully verified)

24 HOURS

32.93 km [20.46 mi]
 equalled by three teams:
Martin Davidson and Kate Lowes,
Guy Le Grew and Oli Holland,
Sophie Lewis and Marie Claire McCartney (all GBR)
 30 August 2008 in London


current female record
100.13 km [62.22 mi]
 Steven and Suzanne Eltis (AUS) VIDEO
 at Eatons Hill State School in Eatons Hill, Australia, on 24-25 October 2008
109.8 km
[68.23 mi]
 Mark Howlett and Rab Lee (GBR) Glenmore 24 Trail Race on 7-8 September 2013
117.024 km
[72.715 mi]
 Gary Shaughnessy and Andy Tucker (GBR) VIDEO
 9/10 October 2021 at Silchester Playing Field, Silchester, Reading, UK

three legged running
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