Philadelphia ultrarunner Bud Wilson, 58, just smashed the record for the fastest run across Pennsylvania. He covered 361 miles from Colliers, West Virginia, to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia in 5 days, 13 hours, and 57 minutes, finishing Friday, June 19. That beats the prior mark of nearly 10 days.
Wilson ran mostly about 16 hours a day with short breaks. He had a steady crew and a support van. Friends and strangers joined him for stretches along the way. He says the best part was the people who came out to run with him.
The route followed U.S. Route 30 and mixed roads, bike paths, trails, and farmland. One day after leaving Pittsburgh he climbed about 7,500 feet. Wilson says long runs give him time to think and find clarity.
He still needs to log the time with Fastest Known Time, the site ultrarunners use for route records. He already holds an FKT for a 196-mile run across New Jersey, done in two days and nine hours.
Wilson was also raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and had about $1,250 on his GoFundMe. Supporters can still donate. For now, he plans to rest and recover. No word yet on his next big run.
