Today in Running History
Today in Running History is your daily dose of the most unforgettable moments in the world of running. From legendary races and record-breaking performances to quirky, obscure, and downright outrageous stories, each short episode dives into a key event that happened on this day in the sport’s rich history. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner, a casual jogger, or a running trivia nerd, this podcast brings the past to life - one stride at a time.
Listen on:
Episodes
13 hours ago
13 hours ago
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 means that today's episode is sponsored by SaltStick. This is, hands down, my favorite way to consume electrolytes mid-run.
Right now until July 20th, SaltStick has a Strava challenge going on in conjunction with Fleet Feet. All you have to do is sign up here, run 5K between now and next Sunday, and you will automatically receive a sample pack of SaltStick!
Even cooler, one entrant will receive a $5,000 shopping spree to their local Fleet Feet!
Listeners of the pod can also save 20% off of your SaltStick purchase by using this link.
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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.
Bibliography:
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/9270
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/01/11/robert-barclay-allardice-is-the-father-of-pedestrianism-he-walked-1000-miles-in-1000-hours/
https://sshf.sportscotland.org.uk/inductees/captain-robert-barclay-allardice/index.html
https://ultrarunninghistory.com/1000-milers-part-2/
https://ultrarunninghistory.com/1000-milers-1/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/london_marathon_2003/2945711.stm
2 days ago
2 days ago
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, or on Instagram as @robontherunpod.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website here.
Bibliography:
https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/jumps/pole-vault
https://www.gillporter.com/gill_store/blog/post/what-goes-up
https://vaultermagazine.com/evolution-of-the-pole-vault/
https://illumin.usc.edu/2702-2/
https://sports.stackexchange.com/questions/27723/at-the-1912-olympics-pole-vault-why-were-bronze-medals-awarded-when-a-gold-and
https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=11269&L=1
https://olympic.ca/team-canada/william-happeny/
https://www.olympedia.org/editions/6/sports/ATH
https://web.archive.org/web/20200417173914/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1912/ATH/mens-pole-vault.html
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66080
3 days ago
3 days ago
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 @robontherunpod.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website here.
Bibliography:
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:7167b969-e183-4608-b3ab-a5e77b4038ef?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover
https://www.trackandfieldjamaica.com/team/herb-mckenley
https://worldathletics.org/news/news/world-record-breaker-herb-mckenley-passes-awa-1
https://jis.gov.jm/information/famous-jamaicans/herbert-henry-mckenley/
https://joa.org.jm/olympic_athlete/herb-mckenley/
https://www.jamaicaexperiences.com/blogs/details/article/top-10-jamaican-track-and-field-athletic-stars
https://nlj.gov.jm/Herb_Mckenley.pdf
https://pennrelays.com/sports/2023/2/8/records-results.aspx
4 days ago
4 days ago
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 of Today in Running History can get 15% of your purchase with this link, or by using my code "HILLARY" at checkout.
During today's episode, I reference the two books that Kara Goucher authored:
The Longest Race can be purchased here
Strong can be purchased here
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 @robontherunpod.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website here.
Bibliography:
Goucher, K. (2023). "The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team". Gallery Books
http://www.karagoucher.com/about/
https://cubuffs.com/honors/cu-athletic-hall-of-fame/kara-grgaswheeler-goucher/52
https://www.oiselle.com/pages/kara-goucher?srsltid=AfmBOoowkRkAd92NhfVkhcxolXAaw-Mkl68MgUQ1nc5s1DfSuU9y3cBo
Edit to add - upon listening to this episode myself, I realize that I made 3 errors. Kara and Adam got married in 2001, her book is called "Strong" without an "er", and Billy Mills' win was in 1964.
5 days ago
5 days ago
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 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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.
Bibliography:
https://www.baa.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/BostonMarathonHistoricalResults.pdf
https://www.thesportscol.com/2024/03/this-women-pulled-a-rosie-ruiz/
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/the-buzzer-rosie-ruiz-boston-marathon-jacqueline-gareau-1.6426886
https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,984407-2,00.html
https://time.com/3822577/rosie-ruiz-history/
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/rosie-ruiz-dies-boston-marathon
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-palm-beach-fl/rosie-vivas-8774911?fbclid=IwAR1YjL5FUf6xsNaBIABRkX-4POTUyI29W77QSmVzGEvJpbuUiXZB-MUFp1A
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a28615122/rosie-ruiz-boston-marathon-dies/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-21/rosie-ruiz-fakes-boston-marathon-win
6 days ago
6 days ago
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 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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.
Bibliography:
https://web.archive.org/web/20070210141511/http://wls3.com/running/elg.php
https://www.deseret.com/sports/2023/2/21/23601453/super-shoes-overwhelming-track-and-field-record-book/
https://worldathletics.org/news/report/el-guerrouj-smashes-mile-record-as-johnson-da
https://africa-news-agency.com/hicham-el-guerrouj-from-track-to-business-an-exceptional-journey/
https://www.abramundi.org/post/hicham-el-guerrouj-legend-and-symbol-of-moroccan-athletics
https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=259970
https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/jakob-ingebrigtsen-takes-third-straight-diamond-league-title-in-chaotic-1500m-final/
https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/middlelong/one-mile/all/men/senior
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
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 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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.
Bibliography:
https://athletics.org.nz/legends/arthur-lydiard/
https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20797781/essential-lydiard/
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/arthur-lydiard
https://coachsaltmarsh.com/the-lydiard-effect-cross-country-training/
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6l3/lydiard-arthur-leslie/print
https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/odd-man-out/
https://janecopland.com/2019/02/26/running-into-obsession-the-church-of-arthur-lydiard/
https://run.outsideonline.com/training/training-plans/marathon/eliud-kipchoge-marathon-workout-training-principles
https://www.aucklandjoggers.co.nz/about-3
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
Saturday Jul 05, 2025
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 Ingrid Kristiansen herself about what that day was really like.
This episode is sponsored by SaltStick, my favorite source of electrolytes during long runs, especially in the summer. They recently came out with a caffeinated version of their FastChews, and I am basically living off of them while putting myself through the hell that is summer marathon training in Texas.
Listeners can save 20% off your purchase by using this link at any time, or use this one to purchase through Amazon during the upcoming Prime Days for some extra savings!
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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com. Bibliography:
https://www.european-athletics.com/news/golden-moments-kristiansen-scintillating-000m-stuttgart
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/06/sports/kristiansen-breaks-record.html
https://athleticsweekly.com/news/interviews/ingrid-kristiansen-my-greatest-race-1039970267/
https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/eTN1986_16_GoodwillG.pdf
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
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 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 me on Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com.
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
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 and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, Rob on the Run on Youtube, or on Instagram as @robontherun
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, comment, and share, then connect with me on Instagram or through my website.
Bibliography:
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/02/03/The-1983-National-Sports-Festival-will-be-used-to/8074413096400/
https://msfame.com/inductees/calvin-smith/
https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Calvin_Smith.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUWW8defMw4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-FszWWEbk
http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/eng/TC002aEN.html#:~:text=The%20stadion%20was%20the%20oldest,in%20Delphi%20177%2C55%20m.
https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/07/11/the-fastest-doubleheader-ever
Your Title
This is the description area. You can write an introduction or add anything you want to tell your audience. This can help potential listeners better understand and become interested in your podcast. Think about what will motivate them to hit the play button. What is your podcast about? What makes it unique? This is your chance to introduce your podcast and grab their attention.