Today in Running History

Today is Thursday, July 24th, 2025 and on this day in 1908, 55 men ran the Olympic marathon, which was the first ever to measure 26.2 miles. In today's episode, we'll discuss how exactly the race organizers settled on that seemingly random distance, hear about the controversial first place finish that ended in a DQ, and learn what odd assortments of refreshments were available at marathon aid stat...

Today is Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 and on this day in 1974, legendary American sprinter Maurice Greene was born in Kansas City, Kansas. In this episode, we'll hear about Greene's rise to the top, which records he took down, and why he needed a fire extinguisher after one particularly fast race. I will also go on a bit of a rant about athletes (not Greene) doping, mid-episode. This episode was edi...

Today is Tuesday, July 22, 2025, and on this day in 1952, Malvin "Marvelous Mal" Whitfield won his second consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 800 metres.   In this episode, we'll hear about Whitfield's time as a Tuskegee Airman who saw combat in both World War 2 and the Korean War, how he earned his 5 medals across 2 Olympic games (becoming the first active duty military servicemember to do so...

Today is Monday, July 21st, 2025, and on this day in 2023, Faith Kipyegon set what remains the current official world record in the women's mile.   In this episode we will hear how women's "world's bests" and later world records fell over the 102 years of recordkeeping, learn about Faith Kipyegon's incredible career, and speculate on where the women's mile will go from here.    This episode was ed...

Today is Sunday, July 20, 2025 and on this day in 1876, the IC4A (precursor to NCAA) hosted the first intercollegiate track and field meet in the United States.    In this episode, we'll hear which college sports predated track and field, which events made an appearance at this first official meet, and which US President was supposed to be in attendance.    This episode was edited and produced by...

Today is Saturday, July 19, 2025 and on this day in 1900, 14 men started the second ever Olympic marathon, and only half of them finished. In this episode, we'll learn about the 1900 Paris Olympics - which were held as a component of that year's World Fair - and the inhospitable conditions that made a full half of the athletes who began the marathon able to complete it. Plus, the secret that the c...

Today is Friday, July 18, 2025, and on this day in 2004, middle distance phenom Carrie Tollefson won the 1,500 meter final at the US Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, CA. In this episode we will hear about Tollefson's devastating loss in the 5,000 meters earlier in the trials, learn how she pivoted her focus toward the 1,500 to win and make the Olympic team, and then we'll sit down wit...

Today is Thursday, July 17, 2025 and on this day in 1988, Florence Griffith-Joyner, better known as FloJo, celebrated breaking the women's 100m world record in an incredible time of 10.49 seconds. To this day, her record still stands. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ , or on Instagram as @robo...

Today is Wednesday, July 16, 2025, and on this day in 1978, the first annual Boilermaker race was held in Utica, New York - a race that would grow to one of the biggest and most iconic 15Ks in the country. In this episode we will learn about the radiator company that started it all, what that first race looked like back in '78, and then meet Joe Wilczynski, one of 7 athletes who has completed all...

Today is Tuesday, July 15, 2025, and on this day in 1912, 68 men set out to run the Olympic Marathon in Stockholm, Sweden. In this episode we will hear about the 35 who finished, the one who collapsed and died, and the one who went missing, only to be found 54 years later. This episode is sponsored by MyRaceTatts, the awesome temporary tattoos with motivational phrases that I love to wear during r...

Today is Monday, July 14, 2025, and on this day in 2022, Jim Thorpe was finally re-instated as the sole winner of the 2 Olympic gold medals he won at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.    First we'll learn about the logistics of Thorpe's events - the decathlon and the pentathlon - and then we will mee Dr. Matt Andrews, an American sports historian and professor at the University of North Carolina Cha...

Today is Sunday, July 12, 2025, and on this day in 1924, 58 men began the Olympic marathon in Paris - and only 30 were able to finish. In this episode we will learn about the conditions that made race day so brutal, hear about the men who dropped out and those who prevailed, and then discuss the lasting impact that the 1924 Olympic Marathon had on safety conditions and accommodations within the wo...

Today is Saturday, July 12, 2025, and on this day in 1809, Captain Robert Barclay finished his final of 1,000 miles, walked in 1,000 consecutive days, a feat that took an astonishing 42 days in all. First we'll discuss the background of this so-called "father of pedestrianism", then we'll hear how the monumental walk played out over the course of 6 weeks, and finally we'll learn if anyone has been...

Today is Friday, July 11, 2025, and on this day in 1912, not 3, not 4, not 5, but SIX men shared the podium for the Pole Vault at the Olympics in Stockholm. In this episode we will learn a brief history of the unique sport of pole vaulting, hear about how the competition at the 1912 Olympics occurred, and discuss whether a similar situation could play out today. This episode was edited and produce...

Today is Thursday, July 10, 2025, and on this day in 1922, Jamaican sprinter Herb McKenley was born. In this episode we'll learn about his early years, discuss his versatile and record-shattering career as a professional runner, and hear how his contributions led to Jamaica becoming the track and field powerhouse that it is today. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidan...

Today is Wednesday, July 8, 2025, and on this day in 1978, American distance runner Kara Goucher was born. In this episode, we'll learn more about Kara's background, I'll do a top 5 countdown on why she's my personal favorite runner of all time, and then we'll hear from Kara herself about motherhood, Minnesota, and the advice she'd give her younger self. This episode is sponsored by MyRaceTatts, t...

Today is Tuesday, July 8, 2025, and on this day in 2019, Rosie Ruiz, the woman who famously cheated her way to a first place finish at the 1980 Boston Marathon, died at the age of 66. In this episode, we will learn more about Ruiz's life pre-infamy, take a deep dive into her ridiculous "win" in 1980, and find out if she ever made amends with the BAA. This episode was edited and produced by my good...

Today is Monday, July 7, 2025 and on this day in 1999, Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj ran what remains the fastest mile in history. In this episode we will learn about El Guerrouj's running career leading up to that evening, hear how that spectacular race played out, and discuss what's next in the world of middle distance running. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and conf...

Today is Sunday, July 6, 2025, and on this day in 1917, legendary running coach Arthur Lydiard was born in Auckland, New Zealand.   In today's episode, we will talk about Arthur Lydiard's legacy as the coach to multiple Olympic medalists, learn about his training philosophy that has become commonplace today, and celebrate his believe that running for fun and fitness is for everyone.   This episode...

Today is Saturday, July 5, and on this day in 1986, Norwegian runner Ingrid Kristiansen broke the 10,000m world record she set one year earlier in an incredible 30:13.74 In this episode we will talk about Kristiansen's many wins throughout the 1980s (including more than half of the marathons she ever entered), learn more about this record-shattering performance in the summer of 1986, and hear from...

Today is Friday, July 4, 2025, and on this day in 1886, Tom Longboat was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. In today's episode, we will talk about Tom Longboat's experience and legacy as an indigenous runner, hear how he won the Boston Marathon in 1907, and talk to his great, great grandson, Kristian, who is literally running in his footsteps. This episode was edited and produced...

Today is Thursday, July 3, 2025, and on this day in 1983, American sprinter Calvin Smith lowered the 100m world record to 9.93 seconds.   In today's episode we will talk about the history of the 100m sprint and Smith's career leading up to that fateful race, then hear from Calvin Smith directly about what it felt like to run the single fastest race of the entire 1980s.   This episode was edited an...

Today is Wednesday, July 2, and on this day in 1868, Bill Hayward was born.   In today's episode we discuss the first of three Bills to build the Oregon track program into what it is today. The original Bill, Coach Bill Hayward. We will also discuss how his legacy of "Hayward Magic" remains alive and well today at Hayward Field in Eugene.   This episode was edited and produced by my good friend an...

Today is Tuesday, July 1, and on this day in 1948, Bill Bowerman became the head track coach at the University of Oregon.  On this episode, we discuss Bowerman's legacy as both a coach to some of the best runners of the mid-20th century and as someone who helped spread running to everyday people. Then, we'll meet Coach Bowerman's middle son, Jay, to learn what he was like away from the track.    T...