Umberto Blasi was an Italian long-distance runner who was a three-time national champion in the marathon and competed in the men's marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Umberto Blasi (Italy) set the men's marathon world record of 2:38:00.8 in Legnano, Italy on November 29, 1914. It stood 5.7 years, until Hannes Kolehmainen's 2:32:35.8 on August 22, 1920. Wiki link