Paul Hardrock Simpson

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Paul Hardrock Simpson ran ultra distances and extreme races beginning in the late 1920s and continuing into the 1950s. Simpson was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in Burlington, North Carolina. Simpson made a name for himself by winning a long distance race against a horse, and went on to compete in numerous distance races as long as across the continent. The horse died as a result of the race.^[1]

In 1928, Simpson competed in the Trans-American Footrace from Los Angeles to New York City. Almost two hundred people began the race, but only fifty-five reached the finish line; Simpson was among them, placing 36th. His participation was documented in a 2002 ITVS documentary, The Great American Footrace. In a second transcontinental race, Simpson finished 5th amongst nineteen finishers.^[1]

Simpson endeared himself to baseball fans in the Carolina League by running around the inside of the Burlington Athletic Stadium during every minute of the games.^[2]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 Bolden, Dan (2006). "Believe It or Not". Remembering Alamance County: Tales of Railroads, Textiles and Baseball. The History Press. pp. 59–61. ISBN 978-1-596-29170-6.
↑ Schlosser, Jim (August 27, 2007). "In old days, ballplayers threw gloves on field". News & Record. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011.

External links

Photo of Paul Simpson from the North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives
"Paul Simpson – What makes Hardrock run?". Sports Illustrated. October 24, 1960.
"The Great American Footrace – Runners' Biographies". ITVS.

Persondata
Name	Simpson, Paul Hardrock
Alternative names
Short description	American distance runner
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

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