Ultrarunning History

This episode explores the declining running career of Frank Hart, a pioneering 19th-century ultra runner who broke the color barrier, detailing his achievements and the racism he faced.

This episode continues the story of 19th-century ultra runner Old Sport Campana, focusing on his participation in a historic six-day race at Madison Square Garden in 1888.

This episode continues the story of Old Sport Campana, a 19th-century ultra runner who overcame a poor reputation to become a prolific competitor in pedestrian races.

This episode shares short historical stories about the Grand Canyon, focusing on ultra runners and hikers, while warning about summer heat dangers and promoting related content.

This episode explores the early history of trail 100-mile races in Great Britain from 1973-1979, predating the establishment of Western States 100 in the U.S.

This episode shares historical short stories about the Grand Canyon, focusing on the development of tourism and lodging at the South Rim in 1896, including the construction of the Bright Angel Hotel.

This episode continues the historical narrative of 19th-century ultra runner Old Sport Campana, focusing on his return to Bridgeport in 1889 after gaining fame for confronting a race manager.

This episode introduces the story of Old Sport Campana, the most popular and entertaining ultra runner of the 19th century, focusing on his life and prolific six-day race career that began after age 42.

This episode explores the career of ultrarunning legend Stu Mittleman, a college professor who became a dominant multi-day runner in the 1980s and was inducted into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame.

This episode explores the running career of ultra running pioneer Bernd Heinrich, highlighting his selective race approach, record-setting achievements, and induction into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame.

This episode explores the career of Sue Ellen Trapp, a pioneering ultra runner from the 1970s who was inducted into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame.

This episode profiles ultra running pioneer Marcy Schwam, a Hall of Fame inductee who set multiple world records and broke barriers for women in the sport during the 1970s and early 1980s.

This episode explores the third Astley Belt six-day race in 1879, a pivotal ultra marathon that captivated audiences and sparked global interest in ultra running.

This episode explores three historical stories of people who attempted to walk around the world in the late 19th century, inspired by Jules Verne's novel and often involving hoaxes that captivated the public through newspaper coverage.

This episode explores the surprising history of ultramarathons held on Christmas Day in 1879, when pedestrianism was more popular than modern sports like basketball or football.

This episode explores the early history of Phantom Ranch in the 1920s, detailing its origins as Rust Camp and its role in facilitating Rim-to-Rim travel in the Grand Canyon.

This episode explores the story of Thomas Curitan, who guided youth on Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hikes in the 1920s, inspiring future Boy Scout expeditions.

This episode explores the adventures of early guides in 1913 who influenced future rim-to-rim travel at the Grand Canyon, based on the host's book research.

This episode continues the story of 19th-century ultra runner Old Sport Campana, focusing on his 1889 journey to California for a race organized by Frank Hall.

This episode explores the early running career of Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake), creator of the Barkley Marathons, before his induction into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame.

This episode continues the story of Ted Corbitt, focusing on his post-Olympic training challenges, perseverance, and marathon victories in the 1950s that contributed to the rebirth of ultra running in New York City.

This episode concludes the story of Ted Corbitt, focusing on his ultra marathon achievements and pioneering work in accurate course measurement for long-distance running.

This episode introduces Ted Corbitt, known as the father of American ultra running, exploring his development into an Olympic marathoner and his foundational role in reviving the sport in the late 1950s.

This episode continues the story of Old Sport Campana, a popular 19th-century ultra runner known as the clown of pedestrian races, focusing on his fame and role in attracting spectators despite not winning major events.

This episode previews the host's new book and recounts the 1879 fourth Astley Belt six-day race, where the world record was broken in this historic ultra-running championship series.

This episode continues the story of Frank Hart, a pioneering 19th-century ultra runner who broke racial barriers, focusing on his personal and professional struggles in 1883 after his career declined.

This episode continues the story of Old Sport Campana, a 19th-century ultra runner, detailing his early struggles and rise in popularity during the pedestrian era.

This episode tells the story of America's first certified 100K race established at Lake Waramaug, Connecticut in 1974, which became the unofficial national championship for the distance.

This episode previews a book about a historic 1879 six-day race in London where 13 world records were broken, highlighting how British runners excelled at ultra distances compared to Americans.

This episode covers the 2024 Barkley Marathons, the world's toughest solo foot race, through an article by journalist Jared Beasley and explores the race's origins inspired by James Earl Ray's prison escape.

This episode celebrates Camille Herron's modern six-day running record by exploring the historical 1879 American Championship Belt race at Madison Square Garden and correcting misconceptions about ultra running's origins.

This episode profiles Connie Gardner, an ultrarunner from Ohio recently inducted into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame, highlighting her 11 national championships and extensive career achievements from 2002 to 2012.

This episode features an interview with ultra running historian Davey Crockett discussing his new book 'Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings' and exploring the early history of ultramarathons dating back to the late 19th century.

This episode revisits Grand Canyon rim-to-rim history from 1950-1964, sharing newly discovered stories including a notable hoax and an incident where teenage hikers borrowed mules to avoid hiking back up.

This episode introduces the host's new book about early globetrotters who attempted to walk around the world in the late 19th century, focusing on the unusual story of Paul Jones and his paper suit.

This episode features a condensed interview with host Davey Crockett discussing his extensive ultrarunning background, roles as race director and Hall of Fame director, and his work on the Ultra Running History podcast.

This episode explores the history and significance of the Across the Years ultramarathon, a fixed-time race held annually in Arizona since 1983, founded by Harold Siegloff.

This episode revisits the early history of the Tarahumara ultrarunners from Mexico, exploring their forgotten competitions in the U.S.

This episode explores the running career of Sandy Kiddy, the first woman inducted into the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame, as part of a series spotlighting Hall of Fame members.

This episode revisits Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim history from 1927 to 1949, covering trail developments and historical context during the Great Depression and war years.

This episode celebrates the 50th anniversary of Gordy Ainsleigh's historic 1974 run on the Western States Trail, exploring its origins and debunking myths in ultra running history.

This episode concludes the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim history series by revisiting events from 1990 to 2020, sharing stories like that of Jerry Chavez, a National Park Service rescue team member who ran rim-to-rim.

This episode revisits Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim history from 1971 to 1989, covering events like hang gliders and balloons, and promotes the host's new book on ultra running history.

This encore episode of the Ultra Running History Podcast discusses the inaugural 1983 Spartathlon, a 153-mile ultra marathon in Greece, while also promoting the host's new book on 100-mile running history.

This episode explores the story of the Kolb brothers, their photography studio at the Grand Canyon, and their pioneering contributions to Rim-to-Rim travel, including early crossings, guiding, and rescues.

This episode concludes the story of Frank Hart, a pioneering Black ultra runner in the 19th century who broke racial barriers, focusing on his final years including a health scare that threatened his career.

This episode features an edited interview from Trail Runner Nation where host Davey Crockett discusses his new book about 19th-century ultra runner Peter Napoleon Campana and the historical significance of pedestrianism in ultra running.

This episode explores the life and legacy of Tom Osler, a mathematician and ultrarunning pioneer who influenced the sport through his training theories, books, and groundbreaking runs like a 24-hour event.

This episode recaps the 2023 Barkley Marathons, detailing its history as one of the world's most difficult ultramarathons with only 15 finishers in over 30 years.

This episode explores the origins and history of the Barkley Marathons, one of the world's most difficult ultramarathons, including its ties to a prison break and its brutal statistics.