Today in Running History

Hillary Barrett
  • 5.0 (9)
  • RUNNING

While there is no shortage of podcasts that focus on the mechanics of running, I was surprised to find very little that looks at the history of our sport. I created the daily podcast “Today In Running History” to fill this space. In eight minutes or less, listeners will learn the backstories and lasting impact of some of the biggest names and milestones in running history, plus some they might not know about yet. Like the sport itself, Today In Running History is for all of us, from passionate and facts-obsessed sports-history geeks to the most casual of newbies.

  1. FEB 1

    January 1976 - Jan Merrill wins first Wanamaker Mile for women at Millrose Games

    Today is Friday, January 30th, and on this day in 1976, 19yo American middle-distance runner Jan Merrill became the winner of the first-ever women’s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, marking the fall of yet another gender barrier to collapse in the 1970s.   In this episode, we'll meet Jan and hear what it was like to be a young female athlete at the height of America's running boom - at Millrose, the Olympics, and beyond.    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.   As part of my fundraising efforts to support Keep a Child Alive for the 2026 London Marathon, I am raffling off a box of 12 items from Fuel Goods worth more than $70. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20, and can be purchased by donating here.    All new subscribers to the RunnerBox by Fuel Goods will automatically receive $10 to spend on anything at the marketplace, and listeners of Today in Running History can save $10 off your first box by using my code "HILLARY10" at checkout. Check out the Fuel Goods website 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

    39 min

  2. JAN 28

    January 1939 - women's running pioneer Nina Kuscsik is born

    Today is Tuesday, January 26th, 2026 and this month in 1939, Nina Kuscsik, a pioneering advocate for gender equality in running, was born in Brooklyn, New York.   Kuscsik’s successful lobbying of the AAU in 1971 resulted in immediate changes to the rules governing women’s running, and to the Boston Marathon’s first fully legit women’s race the following year.   It's #Tattoosday, and 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.

    14 min

  3. JAN 22

    January 1980 - Jeff Galloway finishes in 2:16:35 at the Houston Marathon using walk/run intervals

    Today is Friday, January 16th, 2026 and this week in 1980, 34-year-old Jeff Galloway finished third in the Houston Marathon by using the Run-Walk-Run method he had pioneered six years earlier, and which remains one of the things this icon of the running world, now 80, is known for today.    I’m ecstatic to bring you my recent interview with Jeff Galloway, whose contributions to the sport of running are extensive and varied. Most impactful to me personally is his creation of the Galloway Method, which I have embraced in my own training over the last 4 years, and used to PR in both the full and half marathon this past fall.    You can read more about the Galloway method and check out Jeff's books, app, and other resources at his website here.    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.   As part of my fundraising efforts to support Keep a Child Alive for the 2026 London Marathon, I am raffling off a box of 12 items from Fuel Goods worth more than $70. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20, and can be purchased by donating here.    All new subscribers to the RunnerBox by Fuel Goods will automatically receive $10 to spend on anything at the marketplace, and listeners of Today in Running History can save $10 off your first box by using my code "HILLARY10" at checkout. Check out the Fuel Goods website 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

    42 min

  4. JAN 1

    December 1975 - Jacqueline Hansen wins Honolulu Marathon

    Today is Tuesday, December 30th, 2025, and 50 years ago this month, Jacqueline Hansen set a course record and logged her fifth marathon win in 3 years in the third-ever Honolulu Marathon.   In this episode, I sit down with Hansen to hear about that memorable 1975 victory, which became one of many milestones in a career that continues to this day.   It's #Tattoosday, and 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.

    32 min

  5. 12/27/2025

    December 2015 - First Millinocket Marathon held

    It is December in northern Maine, and today’s race marks the 10-year anniversary of the first Millinocket Marathon, held on December 12, 2015, to provide a boon to an area especially hard hit by the 2008 financial crisis.   In this episode, I sit down with founder, race director, and native Mainer Gary Allen to hear all about this cult favorite marathon.   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.   All new subscribers to the RunnerBox by Fuel Goods will automatically receive $10 to spend on anything at the marketplace, and listeners of Today in Running History can save $10 off your first box by using my code "HILLARY10" at checkout. Check out the Fuel Goods website 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

    41 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    December 1993 - Adam Goucher wins Foot Locker XC National Championship

    Today is Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 and this week in 1993, Adam Goucher of Colorado Springs won the Foot Locker XC National Championships in San Diego in a time of 14:41, defeating by 12 seconds the hometown favorite, one Meb Keflezighi, and achieving a time that still remains tied for the 6th fastest in the event’s 47-year history.    In this episode we’ll sit down with Goucher himself to hear about the race that cemented his place in American cross country history, and how that experience led to and colors his current chapter with the sport as both an assistant cross coach and dad of a student athlete.   It's #Tattoosday, and 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.

    41 min

  7. 11/23/2025

    November 2007 - Paula Radcliffe wins NYC Marathon (10 months postpartum!)

    Today is Friday, November 21st, 2025 and this month in 2007, British marathoner Paula Radcliffe clenched her second of four NYC Marathon victories, just 10 months after becoming a mother.   In this episode, I sit down with Paula herself to discuss motherhood, marathoning, her 23-year journey to becoming a 6 Star World Marathon Major finisher.   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.   All new subscribers to the RunnerBox by Fuel Goods will automatically receive $10 to spend on anything at the marketplace, and listeners of Today in Running History can save $10 off your first box by using my code "HILLARY10" at checkout. Check out the Fuel Goods website 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

    35 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    November 1957 - Peter O'Connor dies (First ever political protester at the Olympics)

    Today is Tuesday, November 11th, and this week in 1957, Peter O’Connor, the man known as the “Irish Antelope” and the first-ever Olympic political protester died at 85 at his home in Waterford, halfway between Dublin and Cork, on the eastern coast of Ireland. In this episode, we'll learn more about the forgotten 1906 Olympics in Athens, and hear why exactly O'Connor decided to shimmy up a flagpole during his medal ceremony.    It's #Tattoosday, and listeners of Today in Running History can save 20% off your order using my code "Hillary" at checkout. ⁠⁠⁠Here is the link⁠⁠⁠ to MyRaceTatts.   I want to thank all of you for your patience during my unplanned 2-week hiatus, and I would not like to thank my flu shot for anything at all.    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.

    10 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

While there is no shortage of podcasts that focus on the mechanics of running, I was surprised to find very little that looks at the history of our sport. I created the daily podcast “Today In Running History” to fill this space. In eight minutes or less, listeners will learn the backstories and lasting impact of some of the biggest names and milestones in running history, plus some they might not know about yet. Like the sport itself, Today In Running History is for all of us, from passionate and facts-obsessed sports-history geeks to the most casual of newbies.

Information

  • Creator
    Hillary Barrett
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hillary Barrett
  • Show Website
    Today in Running History

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