Alfred ('Alfie') Shrubb - Famous Long Distance Runner. He won all there was to win in long-distance running as is evident in this photograph. In his heyday, Shrubb was virtually unbeatable at all distances between 2,000 yards and 15 miles. He won more than 1,000 races and suffered only a handful of defeats ? the latter usually coming at one mile or in marathons, distances he wasn?t best suited to.