The One WIth A History LessonWhy run 100 miles? Why invent races so hard they chew people up? Today on the Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick and Jarett dig deep into the surprising, messy, and weirdly inspiring history of ultramarathons.
From ancient hunters in the African savanna overheating antelope for dinner to Victorian gamblers betting on men to walk 500 miles without sleep, this is the story of how humans decided “too far” wasn’t far enough. We’ll meet Greek couriers sprinting between city-states, Tarahumara runners navigating canyon trails long before GPS, and South African soldiers who turned grief into a 56-mile memorial.
We’ll trace the rise of pedestrianism—complete with champagne aid stations—and the gritty American trail boom that spawned Western States, Leadville, and Badwater from bar bets and civic desperation. By the end, you’ll see ultrarunning not just as a sport but as a mirror held up to human nature: stubborn, curious, hungry for meaning through suffering—and always ready to ask, “What if we just... went farther?”
Pedestrianism BookThe Bunion DerbyGrit Guts Determination - Ken Chlouber StoryRunning On The Sun Documentary 
