Ultrarunning History https://ultrarunninghistory.com Podcast and stories about the history of ultrarunning Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:10:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-buckle-1-32x32.jpg Ultrarunning History https://ultrarunninghistory.com 32 32 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. Davy Crockett false episodic Davy Crockett 2022 2022 podcast A podcast about the history of the sport of ultrarunning TV-G Saratoga Springs, Utah Saratoga Springs, Utah 148603279 156: The Second English Astley Belt Race – 1879 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/second-english-astley-belt/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:52:58 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=18024 By Davy Crockett During April 1879, the same month that the new American Championship Belt race was held in New York City, the second English…

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]]> In April 1879 a six-day foot race was held in London, England, where 13 ultrarunning world records were broken by George Hazael and Blower Brown. During April 1879, the same month that the new American Championship Belt race was held in New York City, the second English Astley Belt race, for the “Championship of England,” was put on April 21-26, 1879, at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, England. While the Americans were putting up mediocre times and distances, still focusing mostly on walking during their six-day races, the Brits would run fast in this race and break 13 ultra-distance world records, proving that they were now the best in the sport. It truly was a mind-blowing race for the time. Davy Crockett 156 156 156: The Second English Astley Belt Race - 1879 full false 19:58 18024 155: The 2024 Barkley Marathons https://ultrarunninghistory.com/2024-barkley-marathons/ Sun, 31 Mar 2024 19:00:23 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=18010 By Davy Crockett The Barkley Marathons course (thought to be roughly 130 miles and about 63,000 feet of elevation gain) at Frozen Head State Park…

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]]> The 2024 Barkley Marathons in Tennessee surprised everyone. There were five finishers, including Jasmin Paris (UK) who was the first woman finisher ever. The Barkley Marathons course (thought to be roughly 130 miles and about 63,000 feet of elevation gain) at Frozen Head State Park was the brain child of Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) and Karl Henn (Rawdawg). The idea for the race was inspired upon hearing about the 1977 escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., from nearby Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. The first year of the Barkley was 1986. Prior to 2024, only 17 men had finished the entire rugged course within 60 miles, and no women had ever finished. That would change this year.<br /> <br /> Let’s let Jared Beasley tell the story in his article: Barkley 2024: A Bit Traumatic and Wonderful in Ultrarunning Magazine. Davy Crockett 155 155 The 2024 Barkley Marathons full false 22:19 18010 154: The American Championship Belt – 1879 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/american-championship-belt/ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:25:12 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17984 By Davy Crockett From 1875 to 1879, at least 130 six-day races were held, mostly in America and Great Britain. In 1879, the foot races…

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]]> The American Championship Belt Six-Day Race was held in April 1879 in Madison Square Garden with 40 entrants, running around a track for six days. The six-day American Championship Belt race was billed as a contest to produce the best man to be sponsored to compete in the 4th Astley Belt race to be scheduled in June 1879, in England. For this qualifying race, $1,000 and a championship belt would be awarded to the winner. The race was open only to residents of America and would be under the direction of the New York Athletic Club.<br /> <br /> Belts, not belt-buckles, had become the six-day championship award for the winner of these races. The belt was described as “38 inches long, five inches wide, made of seven heavy plates of gold and silver and bearing the inscription: ‘Champion Pedestrian Belt of the United States.’” Figures of runners were inscribed on two plates of the belt, some with wings or wheels for feet. The central plate featured large figures of the statue of Liberty and a native American.<br /> <br /> The organizers planned for 40 starters, which would by far be the largest six-day race ever held up to that point. This race was significant, because it was the first major race where the field was composed mostly of amateurs. The entries’ fee for this race was not as expensive compared to the previous six-day races, and thus a new crop of 36 six-day “greenhorns” entered the race. Only four others had six-day race experience. With all this inexperience, they risked causing a disaster. Davy Crockett 154 154 154: The American Championship Belt - 1879 full false 26:15 17984 153: The 3rd Astley Belt Six-Day Race (1879) https://ultrarunninghistory.com/3rd-astley-belt/ Sat, 02 Mar 2024 20:42:33 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17941 By Davy Crockett This is the story of the ultramarathon that was the most impactful of all races in the history of the sport. This…

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]]> The Third Astley Belt six-day race was held in Madison Square Garden in 1879 and was the most impactful ultramarathon in the history of the sport. This is the story of the ultramarathon that was the most impactful of all races in the history of the sport. This race was witnessed by tens of thousands of people in Madison Square Garden and followed by millions in long daily newspaper story updates. It received so much attention that it sparked an ultrarunning frenzy on multiple continents and captured the imagination of millions of people who came to realize the humans can run hundreds of miles and not die. This is the story of the 3rd Astley Belt race, held March 10th through 15th, 1879 in New York City. Davy Crockett 153 153 153: The 3rd Astley Belt Six-Day Race (1879) full false 40:40 17941 152: Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings https://ultrarunninghistory.com/ultramarathon-beginnings/ Sat, 17 Feb 2024 23:20:28 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17912 Listen to the audio version. I included my interview on the very good Trail Runner Nation podcast. I recently went on it to talk to…

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]]> Classic Ultramarathons Beginnings is a fascinating new book. It includes the history of some of the oldest and classic ultramarathons Listen to my interview on the very good Trail Runner Nation podcast. I recently went on it to talk to the guys about my new book, Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings. We discussed several of the very early ultras in our history. Davy Crockett 152 152 152: Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings full false 31:45 17912 151: Around the World on Foot: Three Stories https://ultrarunninghistory.com/around-the-world-3-stories/ Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:45:32 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17856 By Davy Crockett The “around the world on foot” craze of the 1890s was first dominated by Americans, but eventually spread to Europeans. Some very…

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]]> The “around the world on foot” craze of the 1890s included educated men. Three stories: Three German Barons, a French doctor, and eight professional Americans The “around the world on foot” craze of the 1890s was first dominated by Americans, but eventually spread to Europeans. Some very interesting individuals, mostly from Germany and France, appeared in New York City claiming to be making a global journey on foot. Most were usually highly educated and impressive. Why would someone leave their well-respected careers and endure the hardship of being on the road for months and years? But the biggest question is why the public and news press could believe in such a hoax. Well, some figured it out. Here are three stories that were followed in newspapers across America. In a way, this was their way of following a continuing reality show that was often printed on the front pages of newspapers. These three stories are among more than 60 included in my new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters. Davy Crockett 151 151 151: Around the World on Foot: Three Stories full false 27:04 17856 150: Around the World on Foot: The Paper Suits https://ultrarunninghistory.com/around-the-world-on-foot/ Sat, 20 Jan 2024 02:30:41 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17798 By Davy Crockett My new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters is available on Amazon. After an introduction to help you understand…

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]]> In the late 1890s, hundreds of people attempted to walk around the world on foot, motivated by wagers like Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's novel. One strange tradition evolved to start in a paper suit. My new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters is available on Amazon. After an introduction to help you understand what in the world was going on, I will share a chapter about the strange tradition of starting in a paper suit. Davy Crockett 150 150 150: Around the World on Foot: The Paper Suits full false 27:02 17798 149: Encore – Across the Years https://ultrarunninghistory.com/encore-across-the-years/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:00:08 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17792 By Davy Crockett This is an encore episode with additions in the article. The Across the Years race, established in 1983, is one of the…

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]]> Across the Years ultramarathon held in Arizona is one of the oldest fixed-time races in the world. It was started in 1983 by founder Harold Sieglaff Across the Years race, established in 1983, is being held this week in Arizona for the 37th time. It is one of the oldest fixed-time races in the world that is still held annually. The race is always held at the end of the year, crossing over to the new year with a grand celebration. Through the years, it has attracted many of the greatest fixed-time runners in the world and still today is the premier and largest fixed-time race in America. Over its impressive history, more than 2,300 runners have logged miles at Across the Years. It all started in 1983, the brainchild of Harold Sieglaff, of Phoenix, Arizona. This episode is a tribute to Sieglaff and the other pioneer ultrarunners who were the first to run this famed ultra. Davy Crockett 149 149 149: Encore - Across the Years full false 29:38 17792 148: Ultramarathons on Christmas Day 1879 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/ultramarathons-on-christmas/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:00:47 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17701 By Davy Crockett Watching sports on Christmas Day is enjoyed by millions of sporting fans. But it also is probably despised by even more of…

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]]> In 1879, the featured Christmas Day sports event was ultrarunning. That day, at least four ultramarathons were taking place including one on a ship Back in 1879, the featured Christmas Day sports event was ultrarunning/pedestrianism. That day, at least four ultramarathons were taking place. The largest six-day race in history, “The Rose Belt.” with 65 starters, held in Madison Square Garden in New York City, in front of thousands of spectators. In Chicago, at McCormick Hall, four pedestrians were competing in another six-day race, more crowded facilities. Probably the most unusual ultramarathon in history was also taking place in the Red Sea aboard the steamer “Duke of Devonshire.” Davy Crockett 148 148 148: Ultramarathons on Christmas Day 1879 full false 25:25 17701 147: Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) – Before the Barkley https://ultrarunninghistory.com/gary-cantrell-lazarus-lake/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 03:00:14 +0000 https://ultrarunninghistory.com/?p=17547 By Davy Crockett Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Lazarus Lake), of Tennessee, was recently inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Most people recognize him for…

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]]> Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Lazarus Lake) created the Barkley Marathons. He was once a talented runner. Learn his background leading up to the birth of the Barkley. Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Lazarus Lake), of Tennessee, was recently inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Most people recognize him for creating the legendary Barkley Marathons, arguably the toughest trail race in the world. But few understand that he once was a talented runner during the 1970s and early 1980s. His running exploits when he was in his 20s and 30s groomed his experience into the most famous extreme sports race director in the world, and into an encyclopedia of ultrarunning wisdom. To understand complexities of the man, Gary Cantrell before he became Lazarus Lake, one must learn about his background and experiences that led up to the birth of the Barkley. Davy Crockett 147 147 147: Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) - Before the Barkley full false 29:36 17547