x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Today in Running History

Hillary Barrett

While there is no shortage of podcasts that focus on the mechanics of running, I was surprised to find very little that looks at the history of our sport. I created the daily podcast “Today In Running History” to fill this space. In eight minutes or less, listeners will learn the backstories and lasting impact of some of the biggest names and milestones in running history, plus some they might not know about yet. Like the sport itself, Today In Running History is for all of us, from passionate and

sports running

All Episodes

41:23

August 23, 1975 - 2-time Boston Marathon champion...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/26

Today is Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 and on this day in 1975, two-time Boston marathon champion Ellison “Tarzan” Brown died at the age of 61. In this episode we will learn about Brown’s background as a member of the Narragansett tribe of Rhode Island, hear how he famously overtook hometown favorite Johnny Kelley during the 1936 Boston Marathon, which led to the naming of the infamous “Heartbreak Hill”, and then sit down for a conversation with Brown’s granddaughter Anna to hear what Tarzan Brown

en

36:28

August 22, 2025 - Deena Kastor wins bronze at the...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/24

Today is Friday, August 22nd, 2025 and on this day in 2004, Deena Kastor won the bronze medal in the women’s marathon at the Athens Olympics, making her only the second American woman in history to reach that podium. In this episode, I’ll briefly cover Kastor’s background prior to the 2004 Games, and then we’ll sit down for a conversation with Deena Kastor herself. It is #FueledFriday, which mean's that today's episode is sponsored by Fuel Goods! This is the sports nutrition marketplace and

en

12:37

August 21, 1985 - Mary Decker-Slaney breaks mile...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/24

Today is Thursday, August 21, 2025, and on this day in 1985, Mary Decker-Slaney broke the women’s world record in the mile, further cementing her place as the most accomplished American female middle-distance runner of the 20th century. In this episode, we will learn more about running prodigy Mary Decker-Slaney, who did SO much more within her decades-long career than simply fall at the 1984 Olympics, as we covered on August 10th.

en

11:51

August 20, 1922 - first women's international track meet

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/22

Today is Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, and on this day in 1922, 77 female athletes competed at the first ever Women’s World Games in Paris. In this episode, we’ll learn about Alice Milliat, who spearheaded the fight for the inclusion of women’s track and field events in the early 1900s, hear what that first women’s track meet in 1922 looked like, and discuss the role played by the Women’s World Games in the IOC’s eventual capitulation 6 years later.

en

39:51

August 19, 1946 - Boston Marathon champion Amby...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/20

Today is Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 and on this day in 1946, Amby Burfoot was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. In this episode, we’ll hear how Burfoot became the first college student to win the Boston Marathon in 1968 and how his career evolved from the running world to Runner’s World in the decades that followed, then welcome Amby Burfoot himself for a conversation about his lifelong love of the sport. You can find Burfoot's books, including my favorite "First Ladies of Running" here, and

en

08:14

August 18, 2004 - fake motorcycle crash causes 2...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/20

Today is Monday, August 18, 2025 and on this day in 2004, Greek sprinters Katerina Thanou and Kostas Kenteris withdrew from their events at the Olympics in Athens after faking a motorcycle crash to avoid drug testing. In this episode, we'll learn more about the two disgraced athletes and the crazy idea they came up with in an attempt to bypass the doping tests they knew they would fail. This episode was edited and produced by my friend Rob Garcia, who many of y'all may know by his own podcast

en

13:54

August 17, 2015 - Asli Cakir Alptekin stripped of...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/19

Today is Sunday, August 17th, 2025 and on this day in 2015, Turkish runner Asli Cakir Alptekin was finally stripped of the gold medal she had cheated her way to winning at the women's 1,500m final at the 2012 London Olympics. In this episode, we will learn more about Alptekin and the FIVE other women who finished in the top 9 of that race (which has been called the dirtiest in track history) who eventually tested positive for banned substances, plus hear about the British athlete who initially

en

12:33

August 16, 2008 - Usain Bolt sets world record in 100m

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/18

Today is Saturday, August 16th, 2025 and on this day in 2008, Jamaican phenom Usain Bolt set the current world record for the 100 meters at the Olympics in Beijing. In this episode, we talk about Bolt’s origins as a runner, his path to Beijing, and the races that made him a legend. Today is also #SaltySaturday, which means that this episode is sponsored by SaltStick. The summer heat is not going anywhere any time soon, which means that we all need to be replenishing electrolytes lost in sweat

en

14:58

August 15, 2016 - Emma Coburn becomes first American...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/16

Today is Friday, August 15, 2025 and on this day in 2016, Emma Coburn became the first American woman in history to earn a medal in the steeplechase at the Olympics. In this episode, we will discuss the history - or should I say "horsestory" - of this event, learn about the doping scandals that tainted the first 2 iterations of the women's Olympic steeplechase in 2008 and 2012, and then hear how Emma Coburn describes her experience winning the bronze at the Rio Olympics. It is #FueledFriday,

en

08:12

August 14, 2020 - Joshua Cheptegei sets current...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/15

Today is Thursday, August 14th, 2025 and on this day in 2020, after Covid had cancelled nearly every in-person international track competition for 5 months, Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei set the world record in the 5,000m at the Herculis Meet in Monaco. In this episode, we'll hear about Cheptegei's background, how the Covid pandemic derailed the entire world of professional athletics, and how that incredible race played out, culminating in a new world record of 12:35.36. I am running the 2026

en

40:10

August 13, 1977 - Dick Beardsley runs first of 13...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/14

Today is Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 and on this day in 1977, Minnesota runner Dick Beardsley ran his first marathon - the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Hurley, Wisconsin. In this episode, we'll hear about that marathon and the 12 that followed, with each one faster than the last. This 13-marathon PR streak earned Beardsley a spot in the world record book, and Dick Beardsley himself joins Today in Running History for a conversation about those 13 marathons and more. And you heard it here first - I

en

11:28

August 12, 1975 - first sub-3:50 mile, ran by John...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/13

Today is Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 and on this day in 1975, New Zealander John Walker became the first human in history to run a mile faster than 3:50.In this episode, we'll hear about the stray animal that kickstarted Walker's running career as a child, how the fateful race played out on that summer evening in Sweden, and the embarrassingly American error I made during my research. It is #Tattoosday which means that this episode of Today in Running History is sponsored by MyRaceTatts, the

en

24:31

August 11, 1984 - Carl Lewis wins 4th gold medal of...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/12

Today is Monday, August 11th, 2025 and on this day in 1984, American athlete Carl Lewis won his fourth gold medal of that year's Olympics, a feat no American had repeated since Jesse Owens in 1936.In this special pod-ception episode, we welcome Kyle Walker from the Back of the Pack Podcast to talk all about Carl Lewis, and what made his quadruple gold so significant. Check out Kyle's podcast here⁠! This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who

en

34:26

August 10, 1984 - clash between Mary Decker & Zola...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/11

Today is Sunday, August 10th, 2025 and on this day in 1984, American Mary Decker and South African Brit Zola Budd collided during the 3,000m final at the Olympics in Los Angeles, leading to Decker dropping out and Budd fading to 7th place. In this episode, we’ll discuss the backgrounds of both Decker and Budd, learn how the race and fall played out, and then pivot from heartbreak to victory as I interview Lynn Kanuka, the Canadian underdog who seized the opportunity to become an Olympic medalist

en

13:16

August 9, 1936 - Jesse Owens wins 4th gold medal in...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/10

Today is Saturday, August 9, 2025 and on this day in 1936, American athlete Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Olympics in Berlin. In this episode, we'll learn more about Owens' background, which four events he won at the 1936 Olympics, and how his treatment did - and didn't - change as a champion Black athlete when he returned to the US. Today is also #SaltySaturday, which means that this episode is sponsored by SaltStick. The summer heat is not going anywhere any time soon, which

en

12:49

August 8, 1915 - Jewish American athlete Sam Stoller...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/09

Today is Friday, August 8th, 2025 and on this day in 1915, Samuel Stoller was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this episode, we’ll hear about Stoller’s background, meet his would-be teammate, Marty Glickman, and learn how the two were barred from competing in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany because they were Jewish. It is #FueledFriday, which mean's that today's episode is sponsored by Fuel Goods! This is the sports nutrition marketplace and monthly subscription service that I've been using for the

en

10:02

August 7, 1948 - Alice Coachman becomes first Black...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/07

Today is Thursday, August 7th, 2025 and on this day in 1948, American high jumper Alice Coachman became the first Black woman from any country to win an Olympic gold medal in any event, setting a new Olympic record in the process. In this episode, we'll learn about Coachman's childhood in the segregated south, discuss her incredible decade-long high jump career, and hear what makes the Olympic record she set so sweet. This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend

en

11:20

August 6, 1958 - "Golden Mile" when 5 men run sub-4

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/06

Today is Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 and on this day in 1958, 5 men ran a mile in under 4 minutes, with the winner setting a new world record of 3:54.3In this episode, we learn about those 5 men - Herb Elliott, Ronnie Delany, Murray Halberg, Merv Lincoln, and Albie Thomas - plus Billy Morton, the man who made the race possible, and whose legacy led to the annual Morton Games, still held in that very stadium. This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob

en

24:31

August 5, 1936 - Tidye Pickett becomes first Black...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/05

Today is Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 and on this day in 1936, Tidye Pickett competed for Team USA in the 80 meter hurdles at the Olympics in Berlin, making her the first Black woman to compete in any Olympic event. In this episode, we welcome back Maggie Mertens, author of "Better, Faster, Farther" to discuss Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes, the first 2 Black women to qualify in the Olympics in 1932, and how Pickett finally got her chance to compete in 1936. I highly encourage all of y'all to

en

09:47

August 4, 2012 - "Super Saturday" triple gold for...

Today in Running History ·

2025/08/05

Today is Monday, August 4th, 2025 and on this day in 2012, Team Great Britain won 3 gold medals within a 44-minute span during the London Olympics. In this episode, we will hear about these 3 athletes and their respective events - Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon, Greg Rutherford in the men's long jump, and Mo Farah in the men's 10,000 metres - and learn what makes "Super Saturday" such a significant moment in British sports history. This episode and every single other was edited and produced by

en

94 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN