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George Perdon |
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“The Man who ran like Clockwork” George Perdon is regarded as the “Father of Modern Ultra running” in Australia and is certainly a worthy inductee in the AURA Hall of Fame. His ultrarunning exploits during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s in Australia did not have any peer within this country and these achievements led to many other champions starting in the sport and achieving their goals. George Perdon was born in Rutherglen, Victoria on 12 August 1924. It is a legendary story that he used to wait at home until the school bell sounded and then run to school. The school was two kilometres away from his home and he never once missed the assembly. He also tasted success in district sports meetings whilst he was growing up. In 1939 he moved to Melbourne and three years later he found himself in the Australian Army serving in the Pacific Islands. Apparently he was one of the few soldiers that revelled in completing the tough 90-mile route marches expected in training during that time. He also won many races form 880yards to 5 miles in interservice sports. After the war, he returned to Melbourne where he joined the Victorian Athletic League to compete in professional track running. During this time he recorded quite a few victories in events between 880 yards and 2 miles. Perdon was to later regard 1964 as his best track season when, at 40 years of age, he notched up three wins and several minor placings. In 1949, Perdon made his first foray into cross country running and competition road running. He soon realised his natural potential for the sport, winning races from the 4 miles distance through to the marathon distance. These distances soon increased and it wasn’t long before he was running 100 miles, Melbourne to Portsea and return, 24 hrs, Sydney to Melbourne along different Highways and the Trans Australia route. In the 60’s and 70’s Perdon set a number of World Professional Records that will be documented at the end of this article. I believe that the times and distances of these records speak for themselves and show Perdon’s versatility as an Ultra runner. In 1968, Perdon set two World Professional Records when he ran the 70 miles from Portsea to Melbourne in a time of 8hrs and 29minutes. Two years later, he was to set six World Professional records around the Olympic Park track in Melbourne. These were for distances between 80 miles and 150 kilometres. The 150 kilometres was run in a time of eleven hours and thirty minutes. In the last thirty five years there have only been a handful of Australian runners that have approached that distance in a twelve-hour period. There were two events that defined George Perdon as a household name in Australia. The first was in 1973 when he ran from Fremantle to Sydney in a time of 47 days, 1 hour and 54 minutes. This was a distance of 2,897 miles and an average of 62 miles a day. The Trans-Australia run was originally the idea of Tony Rafferty. Rafferty and Perdon were always exchanging barbs in the media that appeared to be quite nasty and heated from time to time. Years later the hatchet was buried and both runners revealed a mutual respect for each other’s achievements and capabilities. Perdon had been itching to race Rafferty for quite some time and saw his opportunity when Rafferty decided to run across Australia. In the 1973 Trans Australia race, Perdon was unable to get time off work at the appropriate time and missed that start, giving Rafferty one week’s head start before heading off from Fremantle. Perdon was to end up beating Rafferty into Sydney by a day. They took slightly different routes during the run. The media loved it and the individual sponsors loved the generated publicity. The media followed them in helicopters and the run was to generate front page headlines for a majority of the journey. Perdon was to reflect to Rafferty years later that their run was responsible for so many runners testing themselves further and becoming ultra runners. The second major race that helped to define the Perdon Legend and reinforce “Perdon” as a household name was the 1983 Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon. Sports Store Owner, John Toleman, originally designed it as a Match race between Perdon and Rafferty. This soon developed into a larger field of eleven. An unknown 63 year old potato farmer from Colac, Cliff Young, who stopped the nation with his win in the event, spoilt the expected Perdon - Rafferty match race. Perdon was to finish second in that event and his son, David was to have one of his “dearest and closest memory” of his father from that Event. It was on the last night of the event and Perdon couldn’t win. David Perdon was to state in his father’s eulogy “We couldn’t possibly win but it was unlikely anyone could pass us for second place. And yet George ran through the whole night, not for the accolades but because he had set himself to do it and he was true. I suppose what all this means is that every time I pull on a pair of running shoes, I’ll think of my father and be glad.” One of the popular stories about George Perdon involved him running in his four by three metre garage at Burwood for hours on end. Perdon was goaded by his friend, John Toleman about his garage running one day to which he replied. “When I get giddy, I ran back the other way”. Just another example of Perdon’s dry wit! Perdon’s wife, Valma was also asked about his garage running one day. She stated that after seeing him run 10 miles twice a day, seven days a week, nothing was considered unusual for him. In the 80’s, Perdon was to write himself into Colac Australian 6-day race history when he competed in the race five times. His lowest result during that time was 760kms and his best result was in 1984 when he ran 841.6km, setting Australian and World Age group records in the process. It was in 1986 when Perdon ran 830km in the Six Day race and finished third. This was truly remarkable considering the back injury that he was suffering from. Tony Rafferty described the race as such “I won’t forget the 1986 Colac six day race when the pain from the back injury caused him to run bent over and lean to one side……he completed the 144 hours with a courageous 830kms to place third after a late challenge to the race leaders, Ramon Zabalo and Dusan Mravlje. In an emotional scene, the two Europeans, stressed lean and hungry – hugged the Australian. Trishel Cherns, 11 kilometres behind in fourth place called him “the ageless wonder from down under”. George Audley also has some fond memories of competing in the 1987 Six-day race with George Perdon. “Then came the race and as the days passed, as usual, positions were settled. The Schoolkids came to say hallo before and after school and with 2 Georges in the field I became Young George and Perdon Old George. My position must have been just behind Perdon because all of a sudden he was targeting me. I couldn't see why such a great runner was bothering with a newcomer like me but did not like it. He said I would not get away from him and he would even wait for me outside the toilets if I tried to lose him that way. The final hours came and I struggled over the line with a total of 500 miles with Perdon 8 kilometres in front of me He was 5th I was 6th. It was only years later that I realised what George Perdon (The Professional) had done. He had stirred me up so I would push him to a greater distance. I wonder if without his help I would have broken the 500 mile barrier in my 1st 6 Day Race. He was a great runner. Pity he had to pass away and now I am Old George”. A book could be written about the life and times of George Perdon and his influence on modern-day ultra running and I for one, if I had the time, would love to have that privilege. I know that the widow of another Great Australian Ultra runner has some of George Perdon’s diaries in her possession. This would be an interesting experience to read and relive more of his career. Thanks George Perdon for giving so much to Australian Ultra running and being an inspiration to us all. George Perdon’s life can be summarised in two paragraphs from a poem written by Drew Kettle in 1994: “George ran records across Australia, He was an example to us all, George passed away on 29 June 1993 after a short illness. George Perdon’s Ultra Record 30 miles 2h 53m 48s Prince's Park 1965 Trans Continental Run – 2,987miles in 47 days, 1 hour and 54 minutes. Average miles –62 miles per day. Set records for 1000 miles, 1500 miles, 2000 miles and 2,600 miles. Sydney to Melbourne, 1978 – 1048kms; 9d 4h and 44 min; 1983 – 875kms – 6d 1h Melbourne-Adelaide-Melbourne, 1979 - 1464kms –13d 1h 36m Melbourne – Portsea – Melbourne, 1972 – 120 miles – 24hrs 33min Colac 6 Day race References: Compiled by Ultra Historian, Phil Essam.
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