Mike Wardian Runs Fastest Known Time on the 184.5 Mile O&C Canal
(Re)-Introducing Mike Wardian
Mike Wardian was not born a runner, nor did he grow up a runner. This fact is hard to believe, since he has been a household name in the ultra-running community for a decade. However, Wardian began running competitively after graduating as a D1 lacrosse player at Michigan State University. If you’re thinking, “that’s an odd transition,” we agree. But his accomplishments speak for themselves, as he has collected a plethora of accomplishments since trading in the lacrosse stick for running shoes. Here are just a few of Mike’s world records and highlights:
- Fastest time for 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days
- Fastest marathon and 50K on an indoor 200-meter track
- Fastest Marathon as Spider-Man & Elvis
- Four-time USATF Ultra Runner of the Year
- 2016 ran all the World Major Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York) in average time of 2:31
- Eight-time member of USA 100K World Team, 2011 silver medalist
- 2010 IAU Ultra Runner of the Year
- Participant in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trails Men’s Marathon
- Raced 1,610 miles over 51 events in 2017
- Notable Ultras Completed: The Badwater Ultra, Marathon des Sables, UTMB, UVU North Pole Marathon, Buff Epic Run, Western States, UltraGobi 400K, Barkley Marathons, Hardrock 100, Leadville 100 Run
His Costco-sized list of records just got another addition. On September 1st, 2018, Mike set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Ohio-Chesapeake Canal. This 184.5 mile/300km trail spans from Washington D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland, marking the borders of three states along the way. Although Wardian has a tremendous list of historic runs, this one was quite possibly the most difficult and unlikely to happen.