The Long Run and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool
In his most recently published book "The Long Run," Martin Dugard traces the evolution of distance running from ancient history to modern running booms, highlighting important factors that shaped the sport. The book moves from the legend of Pheidippides and the standardization of the marathon distance in 1908 to the fitness movement fueled by President John F. Kennedy and Bill Bowerman’s 1967 book "Jogging." Dugard explores the transformative 1970s, including the rise of marathon qualifying standards, the impact of the 1972 Munich Olympics on runners such as Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, and Bill Rodgers, as well as pivotal moments in women’s running with the passing of Title IX and the activism of the “Six Who Sat.”
The book also covers the birth of the 5-boro New York City Marathon course in 1976, recounting how the idea emerged from a Bicentennial celebration concept championed by George Spitz and was shaped by Ted Corbitt’s vision. Read about how New York Road Runners is honoring the founders of the five-borough course here. <link to press release>
Below is an excerpt from the first chapter of the book.
