Ultrarunning History

Oct 24 2024 167 ep. 28 mins 580

Ultrarunning History Podcast artwork

This is a podcast about the history of the sport of ultrarunning. An ultramarathon is generally a race of 50K (31 miles) or more. The sport became popular in the 1980s, but had been in existence since the late 19th century. This podcast will share history and tell stories about ultrarunning history generally before 2000.

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166: Stu Mittleman – The Ultrarunning Professor

Oct 24 2024 28 mins

Stu Mittleman was the sixth person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. During the 1980s, while a college professor from New York, he became the greatest multi-day runner in the country who won national championships running 100 miles, but ran much further than that in other races. During that period, no other American ultrarunner, male for female, exhibited

165: Bernd Heinrich – Naturalist Ultrarunner

Oct 01 2024 32 mins

During the first half of the 1980s, Bernd Heinrich, of Vermont, was the fastest ultrarunner in America. In 2007, he was the fifth person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Today, few know of him and his amazing running records and accomplishments. He was unique from most other ultrarunners of his time in that rather than competing in many races, he was very

164: Sue Ellen Trapp – Pioneer Ultrarunner and Legend

Sep 18 2024 25 mins

Sue Ellen Trapp was one of the elite women pioneer ultrarunners who burst into the sport in the 1970s. She was the fourth person to be inducted into The American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. She quickly achieved world and American records and showed how fast and how far women could run. With a busy life including her dental practice and family, she rose to the top of the sport twice,

163: Marcy Schwam: Pioneer Ultrarunner

Sep 04 2024 31 mins

Marcy Schwam, from Massachusetts, was an ultrarunning pioneer in the 1970s and early 1980s, during an era when some people still believed long-distance running was harmful to women. She won about 30 ultras and set at least six world records at all ultra-distances from 50 km to six-days. At one point she ran 100 miles faster than any woman had ever run that far. She was bold, braze

162: Sandy Kiddy – Pioneer Ultrarunner (1936-2018)

Aug 16 2024 19 mins

Sandra "Sandy" Jean (Mackey) Kiddy (1936-2018) of Rancho Mirage, California was the first woman to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. She was born in Grand Rapids Michigan to Robert B. Mackey (1909-1983) and Marjorie Rosita Montez (1911-1993), Her father's ancestry was from Ireland, and her mother's ancestry was from Mexico. Sandy and went to Ottawa Hills Hig

161: Gordy Ainsleigh’s Western States Run – 50 Years Ago

Jul 27 2024 20 mins

Gordy Ainsleigh made his famous run on the Western States Trail 50 years ago, on August 3-4, 1974. Ainsleigh's run in the rugged, hot Sierra in California. It did not get much attention until several years later, when with some genius marketing, it became the icon for running 100 miles in the mountains, the symbol for Western States 100, founded in 1977. Using this icon, they inspi

160: Ted Corbitt – Part Three (1964-2007)

For most elite ultrarunner, as they reach their mid-40s, their competitive years are mostly behind them. But for Ted Corbitt, his best years were still ahead of him, as he would become a national champion and set multiple American ultrarunning records. Read/Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of Corbitt's amazing history as he became "The Father of American Ultrarunning." Perhaps Corbitt'

159: Ted Corbitt – Part Two (1953-1963)

After Ted Corbitt's disappointing 1952 Olympic marathon, he was determined to continue running. His key takeaway was that he had to elevate his performance by running more often and covering greater distances. But as he continued to push his training, he experienced a series of chronic muscle strains for the next year. Corbitt was focused on the marathon distance and continued to

158: Ted Corbitt – The Father of American Ultrarunning – Part One

Ted Corbitt, from New York City, has been called “The Father of American Ultrarunning.” Today, most ultrarunners have not even heard his name and do not understand what he did for the sport that we enjoy today. Ultrarunning has existed for more the 200 years, but with the Great Depression and World War II, it went on a long hiatus in America. Because of Corbitt’s efforts, run

157: The Fourth Astley Belt Six-Day Race – 1879

May 06 2024 25 mins

The Astley Belt was the most sought-after trophy in ultrarunning or pedestrianism. This race series was recognized as the undisputed international six-day championship of the world. The international six-day race series was established in 1878 by Sir John Astley, a wealthy sportsman and member of the British parliament. Daniel O’Leary won the first two races and then lost the cov