Today in Running History

Today is Tuesday, July 29, 2025 and on this day in 2002, Canadian Renaissance Man Suresh Joachim set the world record for the furthest distance run on a treadmill in 48 hours.
 
In this episode, we will learn about a few of the 72 Guinness World Records that Joachim has set since 1996 - including the furthest distance run while carrying a brick, the furthest distance traveled within 24 hours while dribbling a basketball, and the furthest distance CRAWLED on all fours.
 
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.
 
MyRaceTatts is celebrating their second birthday tomorrow, and EVERYONE can save a full 40% off your order by using code "BDAY40" until the end of July 31st. And if you miss that sale, listeners of the pod always get 20% off using my code "HILLARY".
 
⁠Here is the link⁠ to check out MyRaceTatts.
 
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.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/64667-greatest-distance-dribbling-a-basketball-in-24-hours⁠
⁠https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/yet-another-record-for-peels-suresh-joachim/article_1f45ced4-317e-52bc-89e0-05c2c018674c.html#:~:text=Joachim%20has%20drummed%20continuously%20for,hours%3B%20performed%20at%20a%20non%2D⁠
⁠https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_r3e7/page/94/mode/2up?q=joachim⁠
⁠https://www.sureshjoachim.com/#stories⁠
⁠https://nopdw.org/Leadership⁠
⁠https://www.facebook.com/suresh.joachim⁠
⁠https://www.worldpeacemarathon.com/cities.html⁠
⁠https://www.worldpeacemarathon.com/media/WorldPeaceMarathonPressRelease.pdf⁠
⁠https://canadianimmigrant.ca/settlement/success-stories/sri-lankan-immigrant-suresh-joachim-breaks-world-records-and-want-to-establish-world-ceasefire-day⁠
⁠https://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/world-record-holders/232/suresh-joachim.aspx⁠
⁠https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=11813#:~:text=Following%20up%20his%20first%20treadmill,in%20Burnwood%2C%20New%20South%20Wales⁠.
⁠https://alchetron.com/Suresh-Joachim⁠
⁠https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/yet-another-record-for-peels-suresh-joachim/article_1f45ced4-317e-52bc-89e0-05c2c018674c.html⁠
⁠https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=11813⁠
⁠https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/treadmill-greatest-distance-covered-in-48-hours⁠
⁠https://forum.slowtwitch.com/t/this-is-what-i-imagine-hell-will-be-like/291663⁠
⁠https://dynamicitems.tripod.com/records_humanachievements_teststregth.htm⁠
⁠https://www.oneindia.com/2009/08/27/canadassuresh-joachim-attempts-his-60th-guinnessrecord.html⁠
⁠https://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/world-record-holders/232/suresh-joachim.aspx⁠
 

Today is Monday, July 28, 2025 and on this day in 1928, the Olympic Games in Amsterdam began. These were the third and final for Finnish legend Paavo Nurmi.
 
In this episode, we will discuss Nurmi's first two Olympic appearances and the 9 medals he won between them; learn about his fellow Finn, sometimes teammate, and frequent rival, Ville Ritola; and hear how Nurmi's final Olympic races played out.
 
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/20161020185226/http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/paavonurmi2010/olympics.htm⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031200/https://www.urheilumuseo.fi/Kieliversiot/The-Sports-Museum-of-Finland/Information/Exhibitions/Paavo-Nurmis-home⁠
⁠https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/paavo-nurmi⁠
⁠https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/1786⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033437/https://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/PaavoNurmi2010/olympics2.htm⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20161020185514/http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/47/paavonurmi2010/life.htm⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040924/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/nu/paavo-nurmi-1.html⁠
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paavo-Nurmi

Today is Sunday, July 27, 2025 and on this day in 1952, Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zátopek became the first and only athlete in history to win the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon within one Olympic Games. In this episode we'll hear about Zátopek's first Olympic appearance 4 years earlier, discuss how his 1952 triumphs played out at the Olympics in Helsinki, and learn who also won gold just 10 minutes after Zátopek, cementing them both in the history books.
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.on.com/en-gb/stories/the-legend-of-emil-zatopek-favoring-friendship-over-medals⁠
⁠https://jerusalem.czechcentres.cz/en/program/zatopkuv-beh-v-jeruzaleme⁠
⁠https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a775206/emil-zatopek-the-man-who-changed-running/⁠
⁠https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emil-Zatopek⁠
⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Z%C3%A1topek⁠
⁠https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/03/13/dana-zatopkova-double-olympic-javelin-champion-whose-love-affair/⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417172915/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1952/ATH/mens-marathon.html⁠
⁠https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/jun/22/50-olympic-stunning-moments-emil-zatopek⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20200417050738/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/za/emil-zatopek-1.html⁠
 

Today is Saturday, July 26, 2025 and on this day in 1913, legendary Canadian marathoner Gerard Cote was born in a small town outside of Montreal, Quebec.In this episode, we will hear about Cote's humble beginnings, discuss some of the 264 races he ran during his 20-year career - including 4 Boston Marathon wins - and learn about the one course record he purposely refused to beat. It's #SaltySaturday, which means that today's episode is sponsored by SaltStick. Their Fast Chews are, hands down, my favorite way to consume electrolytes mid-run. At the time when this airs, I'll be about 8 miles into my Saturday long run and on my 2nd or 3rd packet of FastChews! Listeners of the pod can also save 20% off of your entire 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://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/38981/the-olympic-marathon-david-e-martin-roger-w-h-gynn?_lg=en-GBhttps://www.baa.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/BostonMarathonHistoricalResults.pdfhttps://kids.kiddle.co/G%C3%A9rard_C%C3%B4t%C3%A9https://runningmagazine.ca/uncategorized/feature-gerard-cote-canadas-greatest-boston-marathoner/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66003https://olympic.ca/team-canada/gerard-cote/

Today is Friday, July 25, 2025 and on this day in 1908, Wyndham Halswelle was the only man to run the Olympic 400m final; this remains the ONLY walkover in Olympic history.
 
In this episode, we will hear about the controversial events during the initial final, and learn why the other competitors refused to show up for the re-race.
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.olympics.com/en/news/halswelle-wins-controversial-400m-gold⁠
⁠https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/the-xxxiii-olympic-games-7153115/results/men/400-metres/heats/result⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20130116164837/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf#page=84⁠
⁠https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69104⁠
⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20061017210926/http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/spathm4.html#1908⁠
https://www.olympedia.org/results/56313
 

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 organizers settled on that seemingly random distance, hear about the controversial first place finish that ended in a DQ, and learn what odd assortments of refreshments were available at marathon aid stations in the early 20th century. 
 
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/20130116164837/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf#page=84
https://www.olympedia.org/results/56369
https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/london-1908-a-short-notice-replacement-for-rome
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/images/olympics/records/previews/mepo2-1156-route-of-marathon-1908.jpg
https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/london-1908/results/athletics/marathon-men

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, which records he took down, and why he needed a fire extinguisher after one particularly fast race. I will also go on a bit of a rant about athletes (not Greene) doping, mid-episode.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.foxnews.com/sports/ex-olympic-star-maurice-greene-reacts-after-hs-girl-gets-disqualified-over-fire-extinguisher-celebrationhttps://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/maurice-greene-kansas-city-kansas-native-and-former-olympian-gives-inside-track-on-rise-to-famehttps://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/maurice-greene-7572.phphttps://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/maurice-greenehttps://worldathletics.org/news/news/maurice-greene-spearheads-iaaf-grand-prix-inhttps://worldathletics.org/news/news/biography-maurice-greene-usahttps://web.archive.org/web/20120618062114/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/track/2004-07-08-cover-greene_x.htmhttps://worldathletics.org/news/news/world-titles-count-the-most-for-greenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSt0SMgIa9ghttps://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/kansas-city/year-1974https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130428/sports/sports31.html#google_vignettehttps://www.kshof.org/team/maurice-greenehttps://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2003-08-25-33-greene-66860352/259676.htmlhttps://worldathletics.org/news/news/single-message-from-single-minded-greenehttps://www.kshb.com/sports/olympics/100-days-of-kansas-city-area-olympians-maurice-greene-trackhttps://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article285590292.html

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 Whitfield's time as a Tuskegee Airman who saw combat in both World War 2 and the Korean War, how he earned his 5 medals across 2 Olympic games (becoming the first active duty military servicemember to do so in US history), and the ways he gave back to the community in the decades following his retirement.
 
It's Tattoosday, which means that 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. 
 
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://usopm.org/mal-whitfield/
https://web.archive.org/web/20111004212958/http://www.whitfieldfoundation.org/about/index3.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20181003052718/http://www.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=181
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/olympian-and-tuskegee-airman-who-survived-segregation-and-combat-is-buried-at-arlington/2016/06/08/33070662-2d93-11e6-9b37-42985f6a265c_story.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20101019085202/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15469
https://web.archive.org/web/20151120061426/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2015/November/19/Three-Time-Olympic-Track-Champion-Mal-Whitfield-Dies-At-91
https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/mal-marvelous-mal-whitfield
https://lagoldeneagles.com/honors/hall-of-fame/mal-whitfield/87
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/whitfield-malvin-greston

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 bests" and later world records fell over the 102 years of recordkeeping, learn about Faith Kipyegon's incredible career, and speculate on where the women's mile will go from here. 
 
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://worldathletics.org/news/report/hassan-breaks-mile-world-record-in-monaco
https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/62226390
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/faith-kipyegon-14413305
https://web.archive.org/web/20250423153851/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/23/faith-kipyegon-audacious-bid-first-woman-sub-four-minute-mile
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/meet-the-pace-team-for-faith-kipyegons-breaking4-mile-attempt/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a65234650/faith-kipyegon-breaking-4-timing/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a65191857/faith-kipyegon-breaking4-results/
https://worldathletics.org/news/feature/faith-kipyegon-2019-kenya-1500m-child
https://worldathletics.org/awards/news/focus-finalists-faith-kipyegon-ryan-crouser
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/sports/olympics/faith-kipyegon-wins-1500-meters.html
https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6245452
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-15-sp-34390-story.html
https://www.8020endurance.com/fastest-mile-run/

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 college sports predated track and field, which events made an appearance at this first official meet, and which US President was supposed to be in attendance. 
 
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. He is available to take on additional work if you are looking to get into the podcasting/YouTubing space and need some help on the technical side. You can email him at robontherunpodcast@gmail.com
 
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.