Today in Running History

Today is Thursday, August 28th, 2025 and on this day in 1981, English phenom Sebastian Coe reclaimed his mile world record from fellow Brit Steve Ovett, marking the third time the duo had traded the record in just 9 days.
 
In this episode we’ll learn more about the 2 men who dominated middle distance running for the first half of the 1980s, the 5 times in 23 months that they traded marathon world records, and the third Brit who claimed the record just 4 years later.
 
Today is "Let’s Run Theresday", powered by Brooks Running. Quick disclaimer that they are not a paid sponsor of the podcast, but my partnership allows me to earn commissions when y’all use my affiliate link.
 
The Labor Day sale is LIVE with great deals on some of my favorite shoes, including the Ghost Max 2. AND you get 25% off of apparel when you purchase any pair of shoes! Check it out here. 
 
Bibliography:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NYMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6706%2C3984125
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/apr/18/50-olympic-moments-coe-ovett-moscow-1980
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/9664314/Running-My-Life-The-Autobiography-by-Seb-Coe-review.html
https://archive.ph/20130131214231/http://postcodegazette.com/news/9002024837/london-2012-chairman-lord-coe-visits-his-old-school-AT-sheffield-tapton-secondary-school/
https://web.archive.org/web/20090412105803/http://www.made-in-sheffield.com/People/sebastianCoe.htm
https://www.teamgb.com/article/seb-coe-versus-steve-ovett-re-visiting-moscow-1980/5Nw7st6GkR1ducwGqpJoFk
https://scottishathletics.org.nz/2019/08/26/rivalry/
https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2016/08/olympics_1500-meter_glory_when.html
https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20806272/ovett-recalls-fabled-rivalry-with-coe/
 

Today is Wednesday, August 27th, and on this day in 1983, Ken Chlouber and Merlilee Maupin hosted the first Leadville Trail 100 in Leadville, Colorado.
 
In this episode, we’ll talk to Ken and Merilee about how they turned their small mining town into the home of one of the most iconic ultramarathons in the United States.
 
This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who many know by his own ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast "Rob on the Run"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are looking to get into the podcasting or Youtube space, but need some help on the technical side, I HIGHLY suggest reaching out to Rob. His email is robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠runningupthathillary@gmail.com⁠⁠

Today is Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 and on this day in 1988, American trail runner Hillary Allen was born.
 
In this episode, we’ll be joined by Allen herself to discuss how she got into running in the first place, talk about her near-fatal fall back in 2017, and hear how she put the pieces back together and to become one of the top mountain trail runners in the world.
 
It's #Tattoosday, and listeners of Today in Running History can save 20% off your order using my code "Hillary" at checkout. ⁠⁠⁠Here is the link⁠⁠⁠ to MyRaceTatts.
 
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.hillaryallen.com/
https://www.hillaryallen.com/about
https://www.sidetracked.com/fieldjournal/out-and-back-hillary-allen/
https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/news/hillary-allen-tromso-skyrace-fall/
https://lessonsinbadassery.com/hillary-allen-the-real-battle-for-survival-was-in-my-head/
 

Today is Monday, August 25th, 2025, and on this day in 1996, American wheelchair racer Jean Driscoll won gold at the T52/53 marathon at the Atlanta Paralympics.
 
In this episode, we’ll hear directly from Jean herself about how she got into athletics, her incredible career as one of the most decorated American wheelchair racers of all time, and what she’s been up to in the 25 years since retiring.
 
A huge thank you to the 26.2 Foundation for helping me connect with Jean, and of course to Jean Driscoll for the awesome conversation. You can check out what Jean and the rest of the Foundation are doing for the marathoning community at their website here: https://www.26-2.org/
 
This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who many know by his own ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast "Rob on the Run"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are looking to get into the podcasting or Youtube space, but need some help on the technical side, I HIGHLY suggest reaching out to Rob. His email is robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠runningupthathillary@gmail.com⁠⁠
 
Bibliography:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080716040128/http://www.will.uiuc.edu/tv/documentaries/atw/atwdriscoll.html
https://usopm.org/jean-driscoll/
https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/heart-champion-story-jean-driscoll
https://www.oiselle.com/pages/jean-driscoll?srsltid=AfmBOoqhVVBJ9ozbPDRlAY_Djnh5J5-gvkYOcsCqXXrR0knHtO6PKS_I

Today is Sunday, August 24th, 2025 and on this day in 1980, American masters runner Toshiko D'Elia became the first woman over the age of 50 to run a marathon in less than 3 hours. 
 
In this episode, I will tell you about D’Elia’s hardscrabble childhood in Kyoto, the surprising way she became a runner, and what she accomplished as a pioneer not just in women’s running, but in the then-new arena of masters running.
 
This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who many know by his own ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast "Rob on the Run"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are looking to get into the podcasting or Youtube space, but need some help on the technical side, I HIGHLY suggest reaching out to Rob. His email is robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠runningupthathillary@gmail.com⁠⁠
 

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 was like off the race course.
 
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.
 
The FastChews from SaltStick are my personal favorite way to get electrolytes in mid-run, and they come in some great flavors, plus caffeinated and uncaffeinated versions, too! Listeners of Today In Running History can save 20% off of your order using⁠⁠ this link⁠⁠.
 
This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who many know by his own ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast "Rob on the Run"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are looking to get into the podcasting or Youtube space, but need some help on the technical side, I HIGHLY suggest reaching out to Rob. His email is robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠runningupthathillary@gmail.com⁠⁠
 
Bibliography:
https://www.naiahf.org/team/ellison-tarzan-brown/narragansett
https://www.26-2.org/tarzanbrown
https://rhodetour.org/items/show/300
https://riheritagehalloffame.com/ellison-brown/
https://www.wcvb.com/article/the-legacy-of-tarzan-brown-and-the-boston-marathons-heartbreak-hill/64479860
https://hmrrc.com/members/pacesetter/2020/august/how-heartbreak-hill-got-its-name-story-narragansett-indian-ellison-tarzan-brown
https://marathonview.net/marathon-results-of-Ellison-M-Brown
https://www.baa.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/BostonMarathonHistoricalResults.pdf

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 monthly subscription service that I've been using for the past 3 years to make sure I'm properly fueled for all of my runs.
 
All new subscribers to the RunnerBox by Fuel Goods will automatically receive $10 to spend on anything at the marketplace, and listeners of Today in Running History can save $10 off your first box by using my code "HILLARY10" at checkout.
 
Check out the Fuel Goods website here!
 
This episode and every single other was edited and produced by my good friend Rob Garcia, who many know by his own ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast "Rob on the Run"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are looking to get into the podcasting or Youtube space, but need some help on the technical side, I HIGHLY suggest reaching out to Rob. His email is robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠runningupthathillary@gmail.com⁠

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. 

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.

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 check out his current endeavor with Marathon Handbook here. 
 
It's #Tattoosday, and listeners of Today in Running History can save 20% off your order using my code "Hillary" at checkout. ⁠⁠⁠Here is the link⁠⁠⁠ to MyRaceTatts.
 
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.ambyburfoot.com/p/about-amby.html
Rodgers, B. (2013). "Marathon Man". St. Martins Press