BREAKING: Derek Clayton, Former Marathon World Record Holder, Dies at 80

Subhead: Clayton was the first person to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes

Additional Details: Clayton won 14 of his 22 marathons and held the world record for two years

Derek James Clayton, the former marathon world record holder, has died at the age of 80. Clayton was born in Cumbria, England, and raised in Northern Ireland. He was a fast and tough runner, and he won 14 of his 22 marathons. Clayton set a marathon world best in Fukuoka, Japan, on December 3, 1967, when he ran 2:09:36.4. He was the first man to run under 2 hours and 10 minutes. Clayton broke the marathon world record again in 1969, running 2:08:33.6. He held the record for two years until it was broken by Ron Hill in 1970.

Clayton was an old-school runner if ever there was one. He was known for his relentless pace and his ability to suffer. He was also a very determined runner. He once said, "I never give up. I always keep going until I cross the finish line." Clayton was a pioneer in the sport of running. He helped to show the world that it was possible to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes. He was an inspiration to many runners, and he will be sadly missed.