Caroline Walker

Caroline Walker (born October 15, 1953) is a former American long-distance runner from Oregon who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on February 28, 1970 with a time of 3:02:53 at the inaugural Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon. #tag:ref|Ryan Watt of The Portland Tribune reported that Walker was also the first American woman to hold a world best in the marathon; however, it is unclear where he obtained this information. Information provided from the Association of Road Racing Statisticians is equally unclear as they include Walker's performance in their progression for the world best but not in their progression for the American best. The International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics, notes that Merry Lepper was the first American woman to hold a world best in the marathon

In the early 1970s, Walker attended the University of Oregon where she received instruction from the legendary Steve Prefontaine. Walker was also the Oregon state triathlon champion in 1984, 1986, and 1987.

Walker claims that mercury in the dental fillings she received during her last year at Oregon negatively affected her health and her running performance, and that a lower back injury sustained at a chiropractor's office ended her running career. From 1995 to 1997, she worked for a physician specializing in the alternative medicine treatments of neural therapy and prolotherapy.

As of 2009, Walker is a colorpuncturist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.