Who knew watching someone walk would be a more popular spectator sport than baseball, football or horse racing? During the 1870s and 1880s, that was the case. Sold out arenas watched competitors walk around tracks almost non-stop for six days straight going over 500 miles. Some walking contests were created from wagers that had athletes walk hundreds of miles between cities....in the snow! Pedestrianism may be the long lost relative of our sport! Author Matthew Algeo joins The Nation to teach us about a long-forgotten sport, known as pedestrianism. This sport spawned America's first celebrity athletes, made them rich and opened the doors for immigrants, African Americans and women.
Matthew Algeo has written many books that evolve around interesting events in American history. He is a journalist that has reported from four continents and these stories have appeared on some of the most popular public radio programs. Matt currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife, Allyson, and his daughter, Zaya
His book, "Pedestrianism: When Watching People Walk Was America's Favorite Spectator Sport" is a fun read that might teach you some strategies on how to be a better runner!
Find out more about Matthew and his other books on his website
EP 676: Runners' Rescue: The Trail Triage Toolkit
EP 675: Balancing Act - Running and Living
EP 674: Gut Check: Managing GI Distress
EP 673: It Starts with the Feet
EP 672: Running on Motivation: Tactics to Move
EP 671: Balancing Stamina and Durability
EP 670: Part 2- Decoding Longevity: Lessons from 'Outlive'
EP 669: Safety, Innovating Runner Security
EP 668: Running with Science
EP 667: Voices Within: Navigating the Mind's Mind
EP 666: Ultrarunning for Normal People
EP 665: The Runner's Renaissance: A Fresh Start
EP 664: Decoding Longevity: Lessons from 'Outlive'
EP 663: Endurance Lessons from Rowing Across the Atlantic
EP 662: From Random Words to Trail Tales: A Lighthearted Ultrarunning Discussion
EP 661: Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings
EP 660: BONUS MILES- From Metabolic Profiling to Peak Health
EP 659: The Endurance Eats Enigma: What to Consume When the Miles Add Up
EP 658: Fueling for Endurance
EP 657: From Start to Finish: Laying out Your Running Calendar
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