Adrienne Beames (7 September 1942, Victoria, Australia – 27 December 2018^[1]) was an Australian long-distance runner frequently credited as the first woman to break the 3-hour barrier in the marathon.^[2][3]

In the early 1970s, women's marathoning was met with deep hostility;^[3][4][5] the 1500 metres was the longest track event officially recognised for women.^[6] When Beames' attempts to officially enter a marathon were thwarted, she and her coach, Fred Warwick, organised an invitational event to be run over a certified course in Werribee.^[3][6] Despite Warwick's request, the now defunct Victorian Women's Amateur Athletic Association refused to time the event.^[6]

On 31 August 1971, Warwick claimed that Beames had run a 2:46:30 in Werribee, Victoria, Australia, shattering the previous women's world best of 3:01:42 set three months earlier by American Beth Bonner at the AAU Eastern Regional Championships in Philadelphia.^[2][7] According to some sources, this mark stood until 27 October 1974 when Chantal Langlacé ran 2:46:24 in Neuf-Brisach, France.^[2] Some sources question the validity of Beames' run and indicate that it was Bonner who actually first broke three hours with a 2:55:22 at the New York City Marathon on 19 September 1971.^[8] John Craven, a sports writer reporting on the story at the time, questioned whether the course was the required distance.^[9]

Dismissed by the press as a "time trial", Beames performance was not officially verified or recognised.^{[3][4][10][11]} The International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics, does not recognise the mark in their progression for the marathon world best.^[12]

During January 1972, her coach, Fred Warwick, announced a series of private time trials that she had completed, claiming several world records: 15:48.6 for 5,000m, 4:28.8 for the mile, 4:09.6 for 1,500m, and 34:08 for 10,000m. None of these had independent observers, and have been treated with suspicion.^[9]

Beames was suspended by local officials in Sydney when she entered a race without their permission, thereby ending her hopes of competing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.^[3] In the 1970s, she moved to the United States where she studied, worked, and competed on the American road racing circuit.^[3][6] By 1973, Beames held women's world bests in the 5000 and 10000 as well as the marathon.^[13] Beames posted an official 2:46:32 at a marathon in Scottsdale, Arizona on 10 December 1977; however, she was disqualified for course cutting.^[14] She won the inaugural Asics Half Marathon with a 1:22:15 on 23 July 1983.^[15][16]

Beames was the daughter of Australian rules footballer, first-class cricketer, and journalist Percy Beames.^[6] She excelled in tennis and squash before taking up running.^[6] In 1990, she earned a graduate diploma in sports science.^[6]