By Davy Crockett

What was the first American ultradistance race in the modern era? Perhaps the answer is the Padre Island Walkatahon 110-miler, a three-day stage race that was started in 1953. It may have even been the first modern trail ultra in the world. This unusual race was a point-to-point race that ran along the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. Those who put it on were very forward-thinking, introducing features that would be used in ultras decades later. Previously long endurance races were mostly limited to professionals. This race was for everyone, the old, the young teenagers, and even women during an era when female participation in endurance events was viewed as inappropriate.

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About Padre Island

The Gulf-Side Casino Hotel

Padre Island, about 113 miles long, is the longest barrier island in the world. This long, skinny, sandy island is the second largest island by area in the lower-48 states. Only Long Island in New York tops it. In 1908 the first development was established on the island, the Gulf-Side Casino Hotel, near the southern tip of the island. But the hotel received serious damage from storms and hurricanes over the years. For many years it closed to make repairs. Finally in 1945 the top story of the hotel was taken off by a storm and the entire structure was finally demolished in the early 1950s.

 

Padre Island today

The Padre Island Causeway

Around 1930 a causeway was built to connect Corpus Cristi to the northern end of the island allowing access to the Gulf’s beaches. During World War II, the northern section of the island was used as a bombing range. By 1953, the island was again undeveloped and used almost exclusively by ranchers. It wasn’t until 1970 that development started again.

Founding the Race

In 1951, Cash Asher (1891-1981), a journalist and author, was the publicity man for the Padre Island Park Board and the causeway. He likely came up with the idea of holding the race and became the race director. The objective was, to walk the length of the island end-to-end. This would be a way to get more publicity for the island and thus attract tourists.

Asher named the race “Padre Island Walkathon.” The term ultramarathon would not be used until 1964. The controversial “walkathons” held in indoor halls had ceased by 1953, and that term would start to be used for any long walking event. This event sometimes also called a "Bunion Derby," taking that name from a coast-to-coast event in the 1920s. Why walk and not run? In the 1950s the idea of someone being able to run ultra distances still was viewed as inconceivable. Word of the race was publicized, and registration opened in early 1953.

Race Format

The format for the event was as a three-day staged race from the south tip of the island to the northern end, a distance of about 110 miles. The contestants would walk on no roads, just beach and sandy tracks pounded down by vehicles. This could have been the first trail ultramarathon event in American History, at least in modern history.

For the first year, the walkers would cover 25 miles the first day, 42 miles the second day, and 43 miles the final day. They would all camp at the start and then for each night after Day 1 and Day 2. A large support caravan of vehicles would go along with the walkers, providing food, medical treatment, news coverage, and transportation for those who dropped out. If a walker dropped out, they were expected to continue with the caravan to the finish. Entrants would to be provided tents.

The rules were pretty simple. Running was prohibited. The published rules stated, “anyone caught running will be thrown out of the race.” Beer or hard liquor were also prohibited during the race. Anyone who partook,