Today in Running History
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 facts-obsessed sports-history geeks to the most casual of newbies.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 18 minutes
- Episodes
- 64
- Years Active
- 2025
July 24, 1908 - first 26.2 mile marathon
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 org…
July 23, 1974 - Maurice Greene is born
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, …
July 22, 1952 - Tuskegee Airman Mal Whitfield wins Olympic gold in the 800m
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 Whitfi…
July 21, 2023 - Faith Kipyegon sets current women's mile world record
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 b…
July 20, 1876 - first intercollegiate track meet in the US
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 c…
July 19, 1900 - only 7 men finish Olympic marathon
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 -…
July 18, 2004 - Carrie Tollefson wins the 1,500m at the US Olympic Trials
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 episo…
July 17, 1988 - FloJo celebrates setting the current women’s 100m world record
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…
July 16, 1978 - first annual Boilermaker 15K Road Race
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 co…
July 15, 1912 - one man dies and another goes missing for 54 years during Olympic Marathon
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 colla…
July 14, 2022 - Jim Thorpe reinstated as sole winner of Olympic gold after 110 years
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 le…
July 13, 1924 - 48% DNF rate at the Olympic Marathon in Paris
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 rac…
July 12, 1809 - Robert Barclay walks 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours
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.
…
July 11, 1912 - 6 pole vaulters share Olympic podium
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 h…
July 10, 1922 - Herb McKenley is born
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 c…
July 9, 1978 - Kara Goucher is born
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 w…
July 8, 2019 - Boston Marathon cheater Rosie Ruiz dies
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…
July 7, 1999 - Hicham El Guerrouj sets the current mile world record
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 ca…
July 6, 1917 - Arthur Lydiard is born
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 …
July 5, 1986 - Ingrid Kristiansen breaks her own 10,000m world record
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 tal…