Today in Running History

Today is Friday, August 8th, 2025 and on this day in 1915, Samuel Stoller was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In this episode, we’ll hear about Stoller’s background, meet his would-be teammate, Marty Glickman, and learn how the two were barred from competing in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany because they were Jewish.
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.
 
They have a really cool new feature right now, called the "Fuel Finder" quiz, which is basically like a matchmaking service that pairs you with the perfect bundle of sports nutrition products based on your activity level, dietary restrictions, flavor preferences, and budget.
 
I just took the quiz and can't wait to share the bundle I receive during next week's #FueledFriday episode. In the meantime, ⁠⁠check out Fuel Goods and take the Fuel Finder quiz 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/20150701092704/https://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20121208141947/https://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/olympics/detail.php?content=jewish_athletes_more&lang=en⁠
⁠https://cincinnati.newspapers.com/newspage/103028901/⁠
⁠https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-us-caved-to-antisemitism-and-snubbed-a-jewish-olympian-at-1936-berlin-games/⁠
⁠https://aish.com/the-two-jewish-american-athletes-excluded-from-1936-berlin-olympics/⁠
⁠https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/31/sport/germany-berlin-jewish-olympics-maccabi⁠
 

Today is Thursday, August 7th, 2025 and on this day in 1948, American high jumper Alice Coachman became the first Black woman from any country to win an Olympic gold medal in any event, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
 
In this episode, we'll learn about Coachman's childhood in the segregated south, discuss her incredible decade-long high jump career, and hear what makes the Olympic record she set so sweet.
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/20150924060015/http://www.olympics30.com/30greatest/alice-coachman.asp⁠
⁠https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/sports-outdoor-recreation/alice-coachman-1923-2014⁠
⁠https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/alice-coachman⁠
⁠https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/alice-coachman⁠
 

Today is Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 and on this day in 1958, 5 men ran a mile in under 4 minutes, with the winner setting a new world record of 3:54.3In this episode, we learn about those 5 men - Herb Elliott, Ronnie Delany, Murray Halberg, Merv Lincoln, and Albie Thomas - plus Billy Morton, the man who made the race possible, and whose legacy led to the annual Morton Games, still held in that very stadium.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 5th, 2025 and on this day in 1936, Tidye Pickett competed for Team USA in the 80 meter hurdles at the Olympics in Berlin, making her the first Black woman to compete in any Olympic event.
 
In this episode, we welcome back Maggie Mertens, author of "Better, Faster, Farther" to discuss Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes, the first 2 Black women to qualify in the Olympics in 1932, and how Pickett finally got her chance to compete in 1936.
 
I highly encourage all of y'all to check out Maggie Mertens's book, which is available at ⁠⁠this link⁠⁠.
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. 
 

Today is Monday, August 4th, 2025 and on this day in 2012, Team Great Britain won 3 gold medals within a 44-minute span during the London Olympics.
 
In this episode, we will hear about these 3 athletes and their respective events - Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon, Greg Rutherford in the men's long jump, and Mo Farah in the men's 10,000 metres - and learn what makes "Super Saturday" such a significant moment in British sports history.
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://athleticsweekly.com/news/reports/from-the-aw-archive-london-2012-super-saturday-1039929034/⁠
⁠https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cq5578r57n2o#:~:text=Super%20Saturday%20(London%202012)&text=In%20front%20of%2080%2C000%20spectators,since%20Lynn%20Davies%20in%201964⁠.
⁠https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/mo-farah-olympic-stadium-glory-copeland-united-states-b2137241.html⁠
⁠https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/news/a40729421/london-olympics/⁠
⁠https://athleticsweekly.com/news/jessica-ennis-hill-britains-greatest-1039939285/⁠
⁠https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/aug/23/jessica-ennis-hill-beijing⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20210204184123/http://www.esaa.net/1999/tf/national/result/jgres.html⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20121024073102/http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country=gbr/athcode=194706/index.html⁠
⁠https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2329453/My-School-Sport-Heptathlete-Jessica-Ennis.html⁠
⁠https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/commonwealthgames/2333945/Commonwealth-Games-Rutherford-ready-for-jump-up-to-the-next-level.html⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20120424044147/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662223/Greg-Rutherford-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html⁠
⁠https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62123886⁠
 

Today is Sunday, August 3rd, 2025 and on this day in 1992, British sprinter Derek Redmond refused to drop out of the 400m Olympic final in Barcelona, after tearing his hamstring mid-race.
 
In this episode, we will examine this iconic moment of humanity at the Olympics, from the original injury, to Redmond limping toward to the finish, to his father, Jim Redmond, making his way down from the stands to help his son finish his race.
 
 
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 2nd, 2025 and on this day in 1928, 9 women competed in what would be the first and only Olympic 800 meter race for women until 1960.
 
In this episode, we speak with Maggie Mertens, author of the 2024 book "Better, Faster, Farther", in which she covers this exact race in detail. Maggie and I discuss the facts of the race itself versus how it was covered by the media, and why all races longer than 200 meters were subsequently banned for women at all Olympic Games for the 32 years that followed.
 
I highly encourage all of y'all to check out Maggie Mertens's book, which is available at ⁠this link⁠.
 
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 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. 
 

Today is Friday, August 1st, 2025 and on this day in 1932, Eddie Tolan beat Ralph Metcalfe during the Olympic 100 meter final in the first race determined by photo finish.
 
In this episode, we'll learn more about both of these athletes, examine the cutting edge technology that determined made it possible to declare a winner, and hear how Tolan became the first Black man to win 2 Olympic gold medals.
 
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.
 
They have a really cool new feature right now, called the "Fuel Finder" quiz, which is basically like a matchmaking service that pairs you with the perfect bundle of sports nutrition products based on your activity level, dietary restrictions, flavor preferences, and budget.
 
I just took the quiz and can't wait to share the bundle I receive during next week's #FueledFriday episode. In the meantime, ⁠check out Fuel Goods and take the Fuel Finder quiz 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, July 31st, 2025 and on this day in 1987, 5 runners set out to compete in the first ever Badwater Ultramarathon.
 
In this episode, we'll discuss the origins of "the world's toughest footrace" that runs from Death Valley to Mount Whitney, learn why the first 3 editions were 11 miles more than the current 135 miles, and then speak with Eleanor Robinson, the woman who won that first Badwater back in 1987.
 
 
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.badwater.com/blog/1987-the-year-badwater-became-a-race/⁠
⁠https://runyoung50.co.uk/the-first-badwater-ultra-race/⁠
⁠https://www.badwater.com/results-history/⁠
⁠https://www.californiasun.co/-miles-triple-digit-heat-and-a-bit-of-insanity-how-al-arnold-invented-the-toughest-run-on-earth/⁠
⁠https://ultrarunning.com/calendar/event/badwater/race/6042/results⁠
⁠https://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/⁠
 

Today is Wednesday, July 30, 2025 and on this day in 1958, champion decathlete Daley Thompson was born in London.
 
In this episode, we'll learn a bit about Thompson's background - including the 9 years he went undefeated, his 4 world records, and 2 Olympic gold medals - and then sit down for a conversation with Thompson himself.
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://athleticsweekly.com/news/interviews/daley-thompson-controversial-best-1803/
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/24/daley-thompson-help-british-athletes-two-time-olympic-decathlon-champion
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-champion-that-time-forgot-why-do-we-find-it-so-hard-to-love-daley-thompson-876424.html
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/12/daley-thompson-taught-me-about-the-importance-of-friendship-in-sport
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/daley-thompsons-tumultuous-love-life-31467525
https://www.teamgb.com/article/black-history-month-the-story-of-daley-thompson/3HV3fvlSxFP4JNO5f5eWzQ