Shrubb "The Little Wonder"  ›  Shrubb and Longboat

Alfred Shrubb and Tom Longboat were friends as well as competitors. Alfred race Tom 12 times, won 10. The most famous race was in 1909, at madison square gardens, it was a marathon. Alfred Shrubb and Tom Longboat have been credited making marathon running hugely popularin the early 1900’s. Names like Jack Caffery, Tom Hicks, John Hayes, Tom Longboat and Alfred Shrubb became household names. One could consider 1900 to 1909 as the first running boom.