Johnny Miles was a 20-year-old grocery delivery boy from Nova Scotia when he won the 1926 Boston Marathon, defeating the reigning Olympic champion, Albin Stenroos and Boston Marathon favorite, Clarence DeMar.
The next year, Miles dropped out of the race after he suffered from severe blisters caused by the ultra thin soles his father had created in order to make him run faster. In 1929, Miles tried again, and won the marathon.
Miles died on June 14 in Ontario. Cause of death was not released. He was 97.
Posted on June 22, 2003 2:32 AMWhile residing in Nova Scotia, Canada, we had the pleasure of seeing a play about Johnny Miles at "The Ships Company Theatre," Parrsboro, NS, Summer 2001. It was such a treat to learn about this man through some very talented actors.
Posted by Valerie on January 29, 2004 1:29 AMJohnny was my mother's first cousin,who is Leinad Mary (Moore)O'Malley. Her mother was Ethel Miles, sister of Johnny's brother John William. My mother is still living, and at 90 years old, recalls Johnny as the most famous and popular of all her relatives. Even now, as several of my own cousins and I research family history, we have not found anyone with more widely available historical notes!!
Posted by margaret o'malley on April 29, 2004 6:09 PMNice to see that the death of Johnny Miles almost a year ago was acknowledged on this website.
I'm the author of the Miles biography: Johnny Miles, Nova Scotia's Marathon King(Nimbus, Halifax, NS, 1990). Unfortunately, it is now out of print but is available from used book websites and others.
Miles died on Saturday, June 14, 2003, just a few months short of his 98th birthday, not on Sunday, June 15. His wife, Bess, died on October 3, 1997.
Since the posting herein, I've also been in touch with Johnny Miles' cousins and put them in contact with other family members.
If interested in his memorial service, log on to the BAA(Boston Athletic Association) website:
http://www.baa.org/News.asp?id=74
and my article: Crossing the Last Finish Line
(Floyd Williston
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (footless@mts.net)
[Editor's Note: Thank you for your tribute, Mr. Williston. The Miles obit has been updated with the correct date of death.-jw]
Posted by J. Walker on May 25, 2004 4:22 PMI am saddened to learn of the passing of Johnny Miles, one of the great champions of the Boston Marathon. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Johnny, I felt a great kinship with him after reading Mr. Williston's excellent biography of Miles, which should be required reading for all distance runners.
Johnny's 1929 win at Boston has served as an inspiration for me in running and in life, because it demonstrated that despite adversity, with hard work and determination success is ultimately attainable.
Johnny Miles will always be one of my personal heroes.
Peter L. Tracey
Washington, DC
hey, johnny was a cool cat and he is greatly appreciated by many people.
Posted by nobody on June 1, 2005 3:54 PMI recently checked the archives for the New Glasgow evening news for 1927. It claimed Johnnie dropped out from a upset stomach and DeMar won that year for his forth time.
Posted by Barry Trenholm on March 20, 2007 8:22 PM