In Search of Al Howie: The Man Who Ran Forever

Al Howie’s monomaniacal pursuit of distance made him a legend. His demons made him human.

In the mid-1970s, Al Howie began showing up at the world’s longest footraces, sporting a wild mane of blond hair, a mangy beard, and white singlet that read “Hell’s Gate.” While most of the runners stretched and warmed up, Howie downed beer. When the gun sounded, he went out too hard, too fast—but won anyway. No one was surprised—Howie had run hundreds of miles just to get there.

Perpetually broke, Al ...