If you are in the mood for a really informative look at the sport, I suggest spending some time at the site of the Association of Road Running Statisticians (ARRS).

ARRS

You'll see a wealth of statistics, information and articles relating to running and records. Have a look!

Pete, as you know that site is maintained by Ken Young, one of the very early records guys. In fact he may have been THE first.

Tom, I'd guess Ken Y was first since he and Ben Franklin were college roommates at Cal-Berkley back in the day. Wait, Cal hadn't been invented yet. They roomed together at UVirginia. Later KY got his advanced degree at UChicago around the time the Cubs last won the World Series.

Ken's done more for stats than anybody I know of and, altho we disagree about enroute records, his site, his 'weekly' Analytical Distance Runner update and past work in stats gathering and records keeping elevate him to the top as a numbers cruncher.