Career
Originally from Santa Paula High School in Santa Paula, California, where he was an outstanding 2 miler, taking second place at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in 1968. In 1972 he began a string of three straight wins in the famous Pikes Peak Marathon, he added a fourth victory in 1976. He has completed the race six times, the most recent as a 57-year-old.
In the 1970s he was one of the early luminaries of ultramarathoning, yet as a Senior athlete he is not above sprinting 100 metres.
He was twice ranked in the United States top ten in the marathon. He continues to be active, winning the M60 division of the 2012 United States of America Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships in October 2012.
Smead has been credited with spreading the sport of ultramarathoning into Europe.