Michael Wardian
Encyclopedia
Michael Wardian is an American
marathoner and ultra-marathoner. He won the 2008, 2009 and 2010 US 50 km championships. In 2008, he won the U.S. National 100 km championship. Wardian also is the 2007 JFK 50 Mile
winner, and won the National Marathon
in Washington D.C. three consecutive years (2006–2008), and in 2010 and 2011.
Wardian is known for the vast number of marathons he participates in. During a 45 day span in 2006, Wardian won four out of five marathons he raced. In 2007, he ran 13 marathons (not including ultra-marathons), and seven marathons in a span of nine weeks (winning three). March 2008 saw Wardian win the National Marathon in Washington D.C. on a Saturday, and then finish third at a marathon in Knoxville, Tennessee
the very next day. In 2008, Wardian ran a total of 53 races. In addition to the national and global races he participates in, Wardian can frequently be seen running in local races around the Washington D.C. area.
Wardian held the world record for fastest marathon while pushing a jogging stroller from May 2007 to November 2009. He set the record at the 2007 Frederick Marathon with a time of 2:42:21. The record was broken at a duel at the 2009 Route 66
marathon by Zac Freudenburg, whose 2:32:10 time beat Wardian's 2:34:37 time.
Wardian also was a former record holder of the fastest Marathon on a treadmill. He qualified and participated in the 2004 and 2008 Men's Olympic Marathon trials. Some of the notable ultra-marathons Wardian has completed include the Marathon des Sables
, the Western States Endurance Run
, the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race and the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
. The United States Track and Field Association named Wardian the 2008 and 2009 Ultra Runner of the year.
In November 2009, Wardian finished third in the IAU World 50K championships held on the island of Gibraltar
. In 2010, Wardian finished third at the Marathon des Sables in 23 hours 1 minute 3 seconds, which was the best time ever by an American. In February 2011, the International Association of Ultrarunners named Wardian its inaugural Athlete of the Year.
On July 1, 2010, Wardian set the record for fastest indoor 200-meter track marathon record, with a time of 2:27:21. He qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials by running a 2:17:49 at the 2011 Grandma's Marathon
. In September 2011, he won the silver medal at the World 100K Championships.
When asked in April 2009 why he competes in so many races, Wardian said:
and Michigan State University
, where he played for the lacrosse team. Wardian did not run competitively until after college. He lives in Arlington, Virginia, is a vegeterian, and works as an International Shipbroker
. Wardian charted the cargo that was on the Maersk Alabama when it was hijacked in April 2009
. He is married with two children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
marathoner and ultra-marathoner. He won the 2008, 2009 and 2010 US 50 km championships. In 2008, he won the U.S. National 100 km championship. Wardian also is the 2007 JFK 50 Mile
JFK 50 Mile
The JFK 50 Mile or the JFK 50 Mile Memorial is an ultramarathon that takes place annually in Washington County, Maryland, USA. The first race was held in spring 1963, one of numerous races that year. After the Kennedy assassination, many of these events were never held again...
winner, and won the National Marathon
National Marathon
The SunTrust Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon, formally known as the National Marathon, is an annual marathon and half marathon held in Washington, D.C. It was established in 2006 as an annual event. It was organized by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and was sold to Competitor Group, Inc...
in Washington D.C. three consecutive years (2006–2008), and in 2010 and 2011.
Wardian is known for the vast number of marathons he participates in. During a 45 day span in 2006, Wardian won four out of five marathons he raced. In 2007, he ran 13 marathons (not including ultra-marathons), and seven marathons in a span of nine weeks (winning three). March 2008 saw Wardian win the National Marathon in Washington D.C. on a Saturday, and then finish third at a marathon in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
the very next day. In 2008, Wardian ran a total of 53 races. In addition to the national and global races he participates in, Wardian can frequently be seen running in local races around the Washington D.C. area.
Wardian held the world record for fastest marathon while pushing a jogging stroller from May 2007 to November 2009. He set the record at the 2007 Frederick Marathon with a time of 2:42:21. The record was broken at a duel at the 2009 Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
marathon by Zac Freudenburg, whose 2:32:10 time beat Wardian's 2:34:37 time.
Wardian also was a former record holder of the fastest Marathon on a treadmill. He qualified and participated in the 2004 and 2008 Men's Olympic Marathon trials. Some of the notable ultra-marathons Wardian has completed include the Marathon des Sables
Marathon des Sables
The Marathon des Sables is a six-day, ultramarathon, which is the equivalent of six regular marathons. The longest single stage is long....
, the Western States Endurance Run
Western States Endurance Run
The Western States Endurance Run, known commonly as the Western States 100, is a 100-mile ultramarathon that takes place on trails in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains annually on the last full weekend of June. The race starts at the base of the Squaw Valley ski resort and finishes at the...
, the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race and the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
The Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run is a 100 mile long ultramarathon held annually in July at Silver Hill Meadow in West Windsor, Vermont. It is one of the four 100 mile races that comprise the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning. It is also the only known ultra race in the USA where entrants run...
. The United States Track and Field Association named Wardian the 2008 and 2009 Ultra Runner of the year.
In November 2009, Wardian finished third in the IAU World 50K championships held on the island of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. In 2010, Wardian finished third at the Marathon des Sables in 23 hours 1 minute 3 seconds, which was the best time ever by an American. In February 2011, the International Association of Ultrarunners named Wardian its inaugural Athlete of the Year.
On July 1, 2010, Wardian set the record for fastest indoor 200-meter track marathon record, with a time of 2:27:21. He qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon trials by running a 2:17:49 at the 2011 Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth...
. In September 2011, he won the silver medal at the World 100K Championships.
When asked in April 2009 why he competes in so many races, Wardian said:
A lot of people say, "Oh, you could be a 2:12 guy or a 2:14 guy if you just focused on one race a year, or two races a year and really built up." And I think the counter argument is that you could get hurt and you wouldn't have any races a year. There are so many opportunities out there and, I love to toe the line. I love to see what I can do and just push the limits and try and experiment with myself.
I like that people can look at me, and say, "Wow, if that guy can do 13 marathons a year and do pretty well maybe I can do one." I think a lot of people can relate to that. Like, that guy works a real job. He's not a professional runner.
Personal
Wardian is a graduate of Oakton High SchoolOakton High School
Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools....
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he played for the lacrosse team. Wardian did not run competitively until after college. He lives in Arlington, Virginia, is a vegeterian, and works as an International Shipbroker
Shipbroking
Shipbroking is a financial service, which forms part of the global shipping industry. Shipbrokers are specialist intermediaries/negotiators between shipowners and charterers who use ships to transport cargo, or between buyers and sellers of ships.Some brokerage firms have developed into large...
. Wardian charted the cargo that was on the Maersk Alabama when it was hijacked in April 2009
Maersk Alabama hijacking
The Maersk Alabama hijacking was a series of events involving piracy that began with four Somali pirates seizing the cargo ship southeast of the Somali port city of Eyl. This event ended with the action of 12 April 2009. It was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the...
. He is married with two children.