Guinness-listed trans-Canada record
Covered 7,295.5 km from St. John’s to Victoria in 72 days, 10 hours, and 23 minutes.
Source-checked athlete record · Updated Aug 18, 2026
Al Howie
Trans-Canada record setter and 1,300-mile pioneer
Al Howie set the Guinness-listed trans-Canada record and became the first runner to finish 1,300 miles in a certified race.
CanadaVictoria, British Columbia
The record so far
Al Howie was a Scottish-born Canadian ultrarunner whose career joined continent-crossing projects with the longest certified races of his era. Guinness World Records lists his 1991 crossing of Canada at 72 days, 10 hours, and 23 minutes for the 7,295.5 km journey from St. John’s to Victoria.
Only 15 days after completing that crossing, Howie started the Sri Chinmoy 1,300 Mile Race in New York. He finished in 16 days, 19 hours, 31 minutes, and 47 seconds, improving the record he had established when he became the first certified 1,300-mile finisher in 1989. Both marks were later surpassed.
Howie also built a substantial fixed-time record. His results include 827.202 km through six days during the 1991 race, 241.723 km at the 1982 Ottawa 24-hour race, and a 13-day, 9-hour, 19-minute, 38-second 1,000-mile performance in 1990 that was an M45–49 world age best at the time.
Defining performances
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Improved the 1,300-mile world best
Finished in 16 days, 19 hours, 31 minutes, and 47 seconds only weeks after crossing Canada; the mark was later surpassed.
First certified 1,300-mile finisher
Became the first runner to complete 1,300 miles under certified race conditions, finishing in 17 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes, and 34 seconds.
1,000-mile age-group world best
Completed 1,000 miles in 13 days, 9 hours, 19 minutes, and 38 seconds, an M45–49 world age best at the time.
Performance history
| Date | Event | Performance | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Chinmoy 1,300 Mile Race1,300-mile roadStarted 15 days after completing his trans-Canada run; the race mark was later surpassed. | 16d 19:31:47 | Winner · Former world best | View ↗ | |
| Trans-Canada Run7,295.5 km point-to-point | 72d 10:23 | Guinness-listed record | View ↗ | |
| Across the Years72-hour track | 411.200 km | Winner | View ↗ | |
| Sri Chinmoy 1,300 Mile Race1,300-mile road | 17d 08:25:34 | Winner · First certified finisher | View ↗ | |
| Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race Ottawa24-hour track | 241.723 km | Winner | View ↗ |
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