Gary Allen has years of experience as an athlete and is one of a small and exclusive group worldwide that has logged sub 3 hour marathons in 5 consecutive decades. He is both a gifted story teller and an inspiring motivational speaker. Gary draws upon a wealth of experiences gained from running over 100,000 lifetime miles, many of them logged on a small off-shore island in Maine where the main road is only two miles long.
Gary Allen: The Master of Boston
Gary Allen started a personal tradition of running the Boston Marathon route on New Years morning back in 2005 simply as a one man tribute to what is arguably the greatest piece of road in running. Running Times Magazine recently featured an article about Gary and his Boston Marathon run which has since attracted others who join him for the annual run to start the year.
The Boston Globe covered his new years run in 2009. In the article Allen said, “for runners, the course is bigger than any of us.”
Personal Marathon Records of Gary Allen updated 04/18/2011
fastest by decade
1. 1970s 2:52:41 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/15/78
2. 1980s 2:39:10 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/24/84
3. 1990s 2:40:47 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/20/90
4. 2000s 2:47:26 Sarasota Marathon 3/05/06
5. 2010s 2:51:03 Snickers Marathon 3/6/10
fastest to slowest
Rank / Time / Event / Date / chip*
1. 2:39:10 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/26/84
2. 2:39:20 New York City Marathon 10/25/81
3. 2:39:57 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/25/85
4. 2:40:04 Boston Marathon 4/18/88
5. 2:40:47 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/10/90
6. 2:42:08 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/91
7. 2:42:47 Casco Bay Marathon 10/04/92
8. 2:42:52 New York City Marathon 10/26/88
9. 2:44:36 New York City Marathon 11/04/89
10. 2:44:59 Rhode Island Marathon 11/01/92
11. 2:46:21 New York City Marathon 10/26/82
12. 2:46:57 Boston Marathon 4/15/91
13. 2:47:18 Boston Peace Marathon 11/23/86
14. 2:47:26 Sarasota Marathon 03/05/06*
15. 2:47:34 Iceberg Marathon 3/01/81
16. 2:47:55 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/17/92
17. 2:48:05 Philadelphia Marathon 11/19/06*
18. 2:48:10 New York City Marathon 10/26/80
19. 2:49:11 Boston Marathon 4/21/86
20. 2:51:03 Snickers Marathon 3/6/10*
21. 2:52:13 Sarasota Marathon 3/4/07*
22. 2:52:17 California International Marathon 12/6/09*
23. 2:52:21 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/24/86
24. 2:52:41 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/15/78
25. 2:52:58 Space Coast Marathon 11/29/09*
26. 2:53:38 Boston Marathon 4/20/81
27. 2:53:42 Los Angeles Marathon 3/19/06*
28. 2:53:50 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/02
29. 2:54:18 Las Vegas Marathon 1/25/04*
30. 2:54:20 Boston Marathon 4/17/06*
31. 2:54:23 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/15/05
32. 2:54:36 Boston Marathon 4/19/93
33. 2:54:50 Pacific Shoreline Marathon 2/01/04*
34. 2:54:56 New York City Marathon 11/1/09*
35. 2:55:14 Maine Marathon 10/7/07*
36. 2:55:16 Boston Marathon 4/16/07*
37. 2:55:21 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/16/09 (tie)
38. 2:55:21 New York City Marathon 11/02/03*(tie)
39. 2:55:33 Boston Marathon 4/19/10* (tie)
40. 2:55:33 Vermont City Marathon 5/24/09*(tie)
41. 2:55:37 Maine Marathon 10/01/06*
42. 2:55:46 Hyannis Marathon 2/23/03*(tie)
43. 2:55:46 Boston Marathon 4/18/11* (tie)
44. 2:55:54 Boston Marathon 4/20/87
45. 2:55:57 New York Marathon 11/3/02*
46. 2:56:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/20/07
47. 2:56:17 Sugarloaf Marathon 05/21/06
48. 2:57:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/18/03
49. 2:57:21 Boston Marathon 4/18/05*
50. 2:57:39 Johnny Miles Marathon 6/19/05*
51. 2:57:42 Boston Marathon 4/20/09*
52. 2:58:09 Boston Marathon 4/20/92
53. 2:58:18 New York City Marathon 11/05/06
54. 2:58:47 New York City Marathon 11/04/07*
55. 2:58:51 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/16/04
56. 2:58:54 Boston Marathon 4/21/08*
57. 2:59:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/17/08
58. 2:59:08 Quebec City Marathon 8/26/07*
59. 2:59:22 New York City Marathon 11/7/10*
60. 2:59:40 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/28/83
61. 2:59:45 Boston Marathon 4/15/02*
62. 2:59:46 Baystate Marathon 10/15/95
63. 2:59:52 Sarasota Marathon 03/02/08*
64. 3:00:01 Boston Marathon 4/18/96*
65. 3:00:16 Marathon by the Sea 9/23/07*
66. 3:04:09 Gulf Beaches Marathon 1/20/02*
67. 3:04:34 New York City Marathon 11/06/05*
68. 3:05:57 Yonkers Marathon 9/17/06*
69. 3:06:22 Nova Scotia Marathon 7/24/05
70. 3:07:36 Boston Marathon 4/16/79
71. 3:08:43 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/14/79
72. 3:12:09 Maine Marathon 10/7/01*
73. 3:12:14 New York Marathon 11/07/04*
74. 3:15:17 Paul Bunyan Marathon 07/16/06
75. 3:18:23 Boston Marathon 4/21/03*
76. 3:20:56 Boston Marathon 4/19/04*
77. 3:33:49 Lowell Marathon 3/12/78
78. 3:35:16 Miami Marathon 2/18/79
79. 3:37:45 Maineiacs Marathon 9/01/78
80. 3:42:08 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/16/77
Totals by Time
Sub 3 hrs — 63
Sub 2:55 — 34
Sub 2:50 — 19
Sub 2:45 — 10
Sub 2:40 — 3
Fastest by Year
Date/ Rank (1 thru 80) / Time / Event/ Date / chip*
1977 (80) 3:42:08 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/16/77
1978 (24) 2:52:41 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/15/78
1979 (70) 3:07:36 Boston Marathon 4/16/79
1980 (18) 2:48:10 New York Marathon 10/26/80
1981 (2) 2:39:20 New York Marathon 10/25/81
1982 (11) 2:46:21 New York Marathon 10/26/82
1983 (60) 2:59:40 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/28/83
1984 (1) 2:39:10 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/26/84
1985 (3) 2:39:57 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/25/85
1986 (13) 2:47:18 Boston Peace Marathon 11/23/86
1987 (44) 2:55:54 Boston Marathon 4/20/87
1988 (4) 2:40:04 Boston Marathon 4/18/88
1989 (9) 2:44:36 New York Marathon 11/04/89
1990 (5) 2:40:47 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/10/90
1991 (6) 2:42:08 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/91
1992 (7) 2:42:47 Maine Marathon 10/04/92
1993 (32) 2:54:36 Boston Marathon 4/19/93
1994 none
1995 (62) 2:59:46 Baystate Marathon 10/15/95
1996 (64) 3:00:01 Boston Marathon 4/18/96*
1997 none
1998 none
1999 none
2000 none
2001 (72) 3:12:09 Maine Marathon 10/7/01*
2002 (28) 2:53:50 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/02
2003 (38) 2:55:21 New York Marathon 11/02/03*
2004 (29) 2:54:18 Las Vegas Marathon 1/25/04*
2005 (31) 2:54:23 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/15/05
2006 (14) 2:47:26 Sarasota Marathon 3/05/06*
2007 (21) 2:52:13 Sarasota Marathon 3/04/07*
2008 (56) 2:58:54 Boston Marathon 4/21/08*
2009 (25) 2:52:58 Space Coast Marathon 11/29/09*
2010 (20) 2:51:03 Snickers Marathon 3/6/10*
2011 (43) 2:55:46 Boston Marathon 4/18/11*
Boston Marathon 19 Appearances
Number / Rank ( ) / Event / Date / chip*
1. (4) 2:40:04 Boston Marathon 4/18/88
2. (12) 2:46:57 Boston Marathon 4/15/91
3. (19) 2:49:11 Boston Marathon 4/21/86
4. (26) 2:53:38 Boston Marathon 4/20/81
5. (30) 2:54:20 Boston Marathon 4/17/06*
6. (32) 2:54:36 Boston Marathon 4/19/93
7. (36) 2:55:16 Boston Marathon 4/16/07*
8. (39) 2:55:33 Boston Marathon 4/19/10*
9. (43) 2:55:46 Boston Marathon 4/18/11*
10. (44) 2:55:54 Boston Marathon 4/20/87
11. (49) 2:57:21 Boston Marathon 4/18/05*
12. (51) 2:57:42 Boston Marathon 4/20/09*
13. (52) 2:58:09 Boston Marathon 4/20/92
14. (56) 2:58:54 Boston Marathon 4/21/08*
15. (61) 2:59:45 Boston Marathon 4/15/02*
16. (64) 3:00:01 Boston Marathon 4/18/96*
17. (70) 3:07:36 Boston Marathon 4/16/79
18. (75) 3:18:23 Boston Marathon 4/21/03*
19. (76) 3:20:56 Boston Marathon 4/19/04*
Sugarloaf Marathon 15 Appearances
Number / Rank ( ) / Event / Date
1. (1) 2:39:10 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/26/84
2. (3) 2:39:57 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/25/85
3. (5) 2:40:47 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/10/90
4. (6) 2:42:08 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/91
5. (16) 2:47:55 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/17/92
6. (23) 2:52:21 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/24/86
7. (28) 2:53:50 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/19/02
8. (31) 2:54:23 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/15/05
9. (37) 2:55:21 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/16/09
10. (46) 2:56:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/20/07
11. (47) 2:56:17 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/21/06
12. (48) 2:57:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/18/03
13.(55) 2:58:51 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/16/04
14.(57) 2:59:04 Sugarloaf Marathon 5/17/08
15.(60) 2:59:40 Sugarloaf Marathon 8/28/83
New York City Marathon 13 Appearances
Number / Rank ( ) / Event / Date / chip*
1. (2) 2:39:20 New York Marathon 10/25/81
2. (8) 2:42:52 New York Marathon 10/26/88
3. (9) 2:44:36 New York Marathon 11/04/89
4. (11) 2:46:21 New York Marathon 10/26/82
5. (18) 2:48:10 New York Marathon 10/26/80
6. (34) 2:54:56 New York Marathon 11/1/09*
7. (45) 2:55:57 New York Marathon 11/03/02*
8. (38) 2:55:21 New York Marathon 11/02/03*
9. (53) 2:58:18 New York Marathon 11/05/06 (chip* 2:56:57)
10.(54) 2:58:47 New York Marathon 11/04/07*
11.(59) 2:59:22 New York Marathon 11/7/10*
12.(67) 3:04:34 New York Marathon 11/06/05*
13.(73) 3:12:14 New York Marathon 11/07/04*
14. DNF 10/28/84
Paul Bunyan Marathon 4 Appearances
Number / Rank ( ) / Event / Date
1. (24) 2:52:41 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/15/78
2. (71) 3:08:43 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/14/79
3. (74) 3:15:17 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/16/06
4. (80) 3:42:08 Paul Bunyan Marathon 7/16/77
Other Marathons 27 Appearances
Number / Rank ( ) / Event / Date / chip*
1. (7) 2:42:47 Casco Bay Marathon 10/04/92
2. (10) 2:44:59 Rhode Island Marathon 11/01/92
3. (13) 2:47:18 Boston Peace Marathon 11/23/86
4. (14) 2:47:26 Sarasota Marathon 03/05/06*
5. (15) 2:47:34 Iceberg Marathon 3/01/81
6. (17) 2:48:05 Philadelphia Marathon 11/19/06*
7. (20) 2:51:03 Snickers Marathon 3/6/10*
8. (21) 2:52:13 Sarasota Marathon 3/04/07*
9. (22) 2:52:17 California International Marathon 12/6/09*
10. (25) 2:52:58 Space Coast Marathon 11/29/09*
11. (29) 2:54:18 Las Vegas Marathon 1/25/04*
12. (32) 2:54:50 Pacific Shoreline 2/01/04*
13. (35) 2:55:14 Maine Marathon 10/7/07*
14. (40) 2:55:33 Vermont City Marathon 5/24/09*
15. (41) 2:55:37 Maine Marathon 10/01/06*
16. (42) 2:55:46 Hyannis Marathon 2/23/03*
17. (50) 2:57:39 Johnny Miles Marathon 6/19/05*
18. (58) 2:59:08 Quebec City Marathon 8/26/07*
19. (62) 2:59:46 Baystate Marathon 10/15/95
20. (63) 2:59:52 Sarasota Marathon 3/02/08*
21. (66) 3:04:09 Gulf Beaches Marathon 1/20/02*
22. (68) 3:05:57 Yonkers Marathon 9/17/06*
23. (69) 3:06:22 Nova Scotia Marathon 6/24/05
24. (72) 3:12:09 Maine Marathon 10/7/01*
25. (77) 3:33:49 Lowell Marathon 3/12/78
26. (78) 3:35:16 Miami Marathon 2/18/79
27. (79) 3:37:45 Maineiacs Marathon 9/01/78
Total Marathons Run per year
1977 -1
1978 -3
1979 -3
1980 -1
1981 -3
1982 -1
1983 -1
1984 -1
1985 -1
1986 -3
1987 -1
1988 -2
1989 -1
1990 -1
1991 -2
1992 -4
1993 -1
1994 -0
1995 -1
1996 -1
1997 -0
1998 -0
1999 -0
2000 -0
2001 -1
2002 -4
2003 -4
2004 -5
2005- 5
2006- 9
2007- 7
2008 -3
2009 -6
2010 -3
2011 -1
Total 80
some other interesting long runs
3/20/93 3:49:01 50K Fund raising run entirely on Cranberry Island, Marathon split 3:15:30
11/ /82 6:21 50 miles Rowdy Ultra, Bowdoin Maine 4th place overall, Marathon split 3:11:30
9/8/02 3:33:08 Ran Mount Desert Island Marathon course as a training run.
10/?/03 3:12:36 Ran Mount Desert Island Marathon course as a training run.
11/27/04 4:39:38 Knickerbocker 60K 2nd place overall
01/01/05 3:10:28 Ran Boston Marathon course, 6am start HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1st
02/06/05 3:12:16 Ran MDI Marathon course in reverse SW to BH.
02/13/05 3:57:11 Ran from start of MDI to 25k mark and return, 50K total (mara split 3:21:09)
09/10/05 Ran track marathon at MDIHS 2:59:14 (stopped 120 yards short)
01/01/06 Ran Boston Marathon course 3:19:55 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2nd
01/01/07 Ran Boston Marathon course 3:24:40 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 3rd
01/01/08 Boston Marathon 3:26:25 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 4th
01/01/09 Boston Marathon 3:59:00 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 5th (5 F)
03/21/09 MTC Osprey FL 50K 3:45:15 1st place overall!
01/01/10 Boston Marathon 3:22:30 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 6th
11/10 Run for Pete, SWH to Ellsworth and back, 42 miles.
01/01/11 Boston Marathon 3:19:30 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 7th
Marathon and Ultra Marathon History for Gary Allen
5th decade Sub 3
