Turing Tries Out for Olympic Team

Alan Turing, renowned for his contributions to computer science and cryptography, was also an accomplished long-distance runner. While working at Bletchley Park, he demonstrated his athleticism by running significant distances, including a 40-mile trek to London for meetings. His running capabilities were notable, as he was able to achieve times that were competitive on a world-class level. Turing's dedication to the sport led him to try out for the British Olympic team, specifically aiming for the marathon event. During his tryout, he faced challenges due to an injury, which ultimately affected his performance. Despite this setback, his marathon time was only 11 minutes slower than the Olympic race time of the British silver medallist, Thomas Richards, who completed the event in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Turing's prowess was further highlighted by his status as the best runner at the Walton Athletic Club, a fact that became evident when he outpaced his fellow club members while running alone.