The craziest race you’ve never heard of happened on Padre Island

Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says that, starting in the 1950s, participants in the Padre Island Walkathon covered 110 miles – all walking, no running – over three days. The full transcript of this episode of Stories from Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles […]

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Before there were crazy hordes of
teenagers celebrating
spring break on Padre Island,
before there were modern causeways
at either end connecting the
113 mile longest
barrier island in the world to
the mainland.
Before that, the island was
occupied mostly by cattle, a

(00:20):
few adventurous fishermen, surfers
and brave day cruisers and
Model T's who would cross
over Colonel Robertson's rickety two
track trestle to go
where no car had gone before.
It is said that in the 50s, hot rod
racers would get ferried over
to the island on the Brownsville
end and race all the way up

(00:40):
to corpus and back.
This was possible then because
there was no Port Mansfield cut
blocking their way.
Another fascinating race, held back
when all the Padre was intact,
had far more participants, but
was much slower.
It was a race to see who could walk
from South Padre to North Padre

(01:01):
the fastest.
No running.
If you ran, you were disqualified.
In fact, there was no thought of
ultramarathons in those days.
Such ideas were immediately
dismissed as beyond
human capacity.
This race was dreamed up by cash.
Asher as publicity
for the island.
He called it the Padre

(01:23):
Island Walkathon.
Writer Davy Crockett provided a
splendid history of the event
for the Ultra Runner history site
that I have right on here for the
details of the event.
And yes, that is his real name,
Davy Crockett.
He said that the race was from
Friday to Sunday, starting on
March 27th, 1953.

(01:45):
The oldest, walker was 67
years old and the youngest starter
was 15.
The race began at 630 in the
morning.
There were 70 participants.
Within a few hours there were only
50.
The wind whipping up the sand
discouraged.
Weak resolves quickly.

(02:06):
The first day was restricted to 25
miles.
Jesse Shamblin, 42,
came in first at 5:32
p.m., Bonnie White
and Beth Brill Hart came
in tied at second, about an hour
behind Jessie.
The fact that women were invited to
participate was quite progressive.
Such integration of the sexes

(02:26):
was not common in those
days.
Camp one, at 25 miles had only
29 overnighters.
More than half the starters
had already dropped out.
Those still in the race were fed
well and provided with tents
to get a good night's sleep.
Day two began at 6:45 a.m..
They had 42 miles to cover

(02:48):
on the second day, 42
miles over sand.
No wonder 20 dropped out the second
day.
Blisters claimed victory over
walkers in many cases.
Interestingly, those with leather
shoes fared better
than those with canvas shoes.
Day three saw only six racers
at the starting line with 43

(03:10):
miles to go.
Three crossed the finish line that
day.
First place went to Jesse Shamblin
of McAllen, with a walking time
of 28 hours and 48 minutes.
He won $250.
The second place went to Frank
Jericho at 31 hours.
He got 50 bucks and
cheers for the 15 year old Boy

(03:31):
Scout, who came prepared
and walked away with $40.
This event was continued each year
until 1969, but after
the Port Mansfield Cut was dug.
They shorten the race to just 40
miles.
It was just a one day event then,
and held only at the north end of
the island near corpus.

(03:51):
I think they should bring back the
original and during spring
break, all those college
kids with unlimited energy and
stamina would make it a fascinating
event.
The Port Mansfield cut would require
a brisk, refreshing swim
across the channel.
It would add a little Ironman
challenge 30 miles in and

(04:12):
maybe continuing with that theme.
There could be a day of beach
cycling, but only with those
one speed bikes with the big tires.
I would even participate myself.
Well, participate
as support crew.
I would drive the beer truck.
I'm strong.
These are stories from Texas.

(04:33):
Some of them are true.