Today in Running History

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 "Rob on the Run". If you are looking to get into the podcasting or YouTube space and need some help on the technical production side, I could not recommend Rob more highly. You can email him at robontherunpod@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to like and subscribe, then connect with me on social media, or email me at runningupthathillary@gmail.com 
 
Bibliography:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/sep/06/costas-kenteris-katerina-thanou-acquitted
https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/news/story?id=6265860
https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/olimpiadas/ultimas/2004/08/13/ult2247u285.jhtm

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 received flack for calling out the doping, but was eventually vindicated. 
 
This episode was edited and produced by my friend Rob Garcia, who many of y'all may know by his own podcast "Rob on the Run". If you are looking to get into the podcasting or YouTube space and need some help on the technical production side, I could not recommend Rob more highly. You can email him at robontherunpod@gmail.com
 
And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, please make sure to like and subscribe, then connect with me on social media, or email me at runningupthathillary@gmail.com 
 
Bibliography:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/7921579/European-Athletics-Championships-2010-Lisa-Dobriskey-loses-out-to-a-former-drug-cheat.html
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/british-athlete-hints-at-foul-play-in-turkeys-gold-27583
https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174101/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2008/ATH/womens-1500-metres.html
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/26/dirtiest-race-in-olympic-history-womens-1500m-london-2012
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cewlqxkn5x8o
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/shannon-rowbury-2012-olympics-1500-meters-medal
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/26/sport/shannon-rowbury-london-2012-olympics-spt-intl
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/26/dirtiest-race-in-olympic-history-womens-1500m-london-2012
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/29/abeba-aregawi-1500m-sweden-suspended
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/7679893.stm
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/10036563/London-Olympic-1500m-champion-Asli-Cakir-Alptekin-facing-life-ban-after-doping-charge.html
https://athleticsweekly.com/news/elvan-abeylegesse-gamze-bulut-sanctions-announced-by-iaaf-59374/

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.
 
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

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, 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
 
Bibliography:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160826083233/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-3000m-steeplechase
https://nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NSA-History-of-Jump-Racing.pdf
https://worldathletics.org/news/preview/rio-2016-womens-3000m-steeplechase
https://worldathletics.org/news/series/emma-coburn-usa-steeplechase

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 London Marathon for the charity Keep a Child Alive! Check out my fundraising page and consider donating here. All contributions go directly to the cause, and no donation is too small! 
 
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/20181119133810/https://results.gc2018.com/en/athletics/athlete-profile-n6025842-joshua-kiprui-cheptegei.htm?source=mobile_app
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a33608803/joshua-cheptegei-breaks-5000-meter-world-record-monaco-diamond-league/
https://worldathletics.org/news/press-release/diamond-league-2020-season-meetings
https://www.diamondleague.com/news/general/wanda-diamond-league-announces-updates-to-2020-calendar/
https://www.nnrunningteam.com/team/joshua-cheptegei/

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 am running the 2026 London Marathon for the charity Keep a Child Alive! Check out my fundraising page and consider donating here. All contributions go directly to the cause, and no donation is too small! 
 
A huge thanks to Dick Beardsley for joining the podcast, and for the excellent conversation. You can check out his podcast with fellow runner Mike Dunlap here, his book "Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race" here (one of the best running books I have run), and sign up for the Dick Beardsley Half Marathon in Detroit Lakes, MI next month 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 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 creators of the running mantra temporary tattoos that I absolutely LOVE.
 
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://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/john-walker-breaks-world-mile-record⁠
⁠https://www.runblogrun.com/2020/08/august-12th-1975-the-40th-anniversary-of-john-walkers-3494-world-record-mile-race.html⁠
⁠https://www.runblogrun.com/2024/08/august-12th-1975-the-49th-anniversary-of-john-walkers-349-4-world-record-mile-race.html⁠
⁠https://www.britannica.com/story/timeline-of-the-space-race⁠
⁠https://athletics.org.nz/legends/sir-john-walker/⁠
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/john-walker
 

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 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 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.
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.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20842411/famous-falls-in-elite-races/⁠
⁠https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/mary-slaney-decker⁠
⁠https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/75228⁠
 

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 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://web.archive.org/web/20150701092704/https://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf⁠
⁠https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/04/01/olympic-track-great-jesse-owens-is-dead-at-66/51f3910e-2d63-4370-991c-151a7e86b076/⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417173802/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1936/ATH/mens-4-x-100-metres-relay.html⁠