James Milner, the Premier League’s record appearance-maker, has added a notable endurance feat to his playing legacy, finishing the New York City Marathon in 3 hours 9 minutes and 4 seconds. The 40-year-old, who retired from professional football earlier this year after spells at Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester City, averaged roughly 7 minutes 13 seconds per mile on the course.
Known for his rigorous fitness regime and famously methodical approach to training, Milner spent the early months of retirement preparing for the race. He told reporters he felt injuries late in his career had cost him the chance of breaking the three-hour barrier he believes he could have achieved in his prime.
The time represents a clear improvement on previously cited marathon efforts by former professional footballers. A 2012 column compiled a list of footballers’ best marathon performances and named former Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet as the fastest then, with a 3:22:36 clocking at the 2011 London Marathon. Milner’s result now stands as a new benchmark among the examples recorded in that survey.
The report was published as part of The Guardian’s Knowledge column, which also revisited other football miscellany in the same edition. Readers were invited to contribute more questions and answers about the sport’s less-heralded corners, as the column continues to catalogue anecdotes and records from players who have pursued endurance running alongside or after their football careers.