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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

11:45

July 28, 1928 - "Flying Finn" Paavo Nurmi begins...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/28

Today is Monday, July 28, 2025 and on this day in 1928, the Olympic Games in Amsterdam began. These were the third and final for Finnish legend Paavo Nurmi. In this episode, we will discuss Nurmi's first two Olympic appearances and the 9 medals he won between them; learn about his fellow Finn, sometimes teammate, and frequent rival, Ville Ritola; and hear how Nurmi's final Olympic races played out. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his

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11:49

July 27, 1952 - Emil Zátopek becomes only person to...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/27

Today is Sunday, July 27, 2025 and on this day in 1952, Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zátopek became the first and only athlete in history to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon within one Olympic Games. In this episode we'll hear about Zátopek's first Olympic appearance 4 years earlier, discuss how his 1952 triumphs played out at the Olympics in Helsinki, and learn who also won gold just 10 minutes after Zátopek, cementing them both in the history books. This episode was edited and produced by my

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11:12

July 26, 1913 - Canadian legend Gerard Cote is born

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/26

Today is Saturday, July 26, 2025 and on this day in 1913, legendary Canadian marathoner Gerard Cote was born in a small town outside of Montreal, Quebec. In this episode, we will hear about Cote's humble beginnings, discuss some of the 264 races he ran during his 20-year career - including 4 Boston Marathon wins - and learn about the one course record he purposely refused to beat. It's #SaltySaturday, which means that today's episode is sponsored by SaltStick. Their Fast Chews are, hands down, my

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08:56

July 25, 1908 - only one man runs Olympic 400m final

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/25

Today is Friday, July 25, 2025 and on this day in 1908, Wyndham Halswelle was the only man to run the Olympic 400m final; this remains the ONLY walkover in Olympic history. In this episode, we will hear about the controversial events during the initial final, and learn why the other competitors refused to show up for the re-race. 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

en

09:35

July 24, 1908 - first 26.2 mile marathon

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/24

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 stations in the early 20th century. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant,

en

10:26

July 23, 1974 - Maurice Greene is born

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/23

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 edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the

en

08:59

July 22, 1952 - Tuskegee Airman Mal Whitfield wins...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/22

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 in US history), and the ways he gave back to the community in the decades following his

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09:56

July 21, 2023 - Faith Kipyegon sets current women's...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/21

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 edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the

en

08:50

July 20, 1876 - first intercollegiate track meet in...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/20

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 my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠, or on

en

09:45

July 19, 1900 - only 7 men finish Olympic marathon

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/19

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 champion was keeping from Olympic officials... It's #SaltySaturday, which means that today's episode

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15:40

July 18, 2004 - Carrie Tollefson wins the 1,500m at...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/18

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 with Carrie Tollefson herself to hear what that day was really like. This episode was edited and

en

11:23

July 17, 1988 - FloJo celebrates setting the current...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/17

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 @robontherunpod. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with

en

26:10

July 16, 1978 - first annual Boilermaker 15K Road Race

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/16

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 48 editions of the Boilermaker. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant,

en

10:23

July 15, 1912 - one man dies and another goes missing...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/15

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 races. Listeners of Today in Running History can get 15% of your purchase with ⁠this link⁠, or by

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36:22

July 14, 2022 - Jim Thorpe reinstated as sole winner...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/14

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 Chapel Hill. Dr. Andrews will tell us how Thorpe's story played out, and why it took over a century to make

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10:00

July 13, 1924 - 48% DNF rate at the Olympic Marathon...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/13

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 world of road running. This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia

en

16:30

July 12, 1809 - Robert Barclay walks 1,000 miles in...

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/12

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 crazy enough to attempt the "Barclay Match" in the two centuries since. It's #SaltySaturday, which

en

10:08

July 11, 1912 - 6 pole vaulters share Olympic podium

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/11

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 produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, Rob on the Run ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠,

en

09:34

July 10, 1922 - Herb McKenley is born

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/10

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 confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, Rob on the Run ⁠⁠here⁠⁠, or on Instagram as

en

20:49

July 9, 1978 - Kara Goucher is born

Today in Running History ·

2025/07/09

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, the awesome temporary tattoos with motivational phrases that I love to wear during races. Listeners

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88 results

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