Episode 77 - The 1904 St. Louis Marathon, The Wildest Event In Olympic History

Episode 77 - The 1904 St. Louis Marathon, The Wildest Event In Olympic History

Author: All That's Interesting July 12, 2023 Duration: 37:54
Marathons today follow a simple formula. There's a starting line and a finish line, a crowd of excited and apprehensive racers, and a clear course to follow. But the 1904 Olympic Marathon took some unexpected turns, in more ways than one.  From the moment the starting gun went off a few minutes after three pm on August 30, the race got even wilder. Preceded by horses meant to clear the road, and followed by cars to monitor the race, the runners were instantly choked by swirling, dry dust. This, the heat of the Missouri day, and the lack of water stations along the route made the run a hellish challenge for the 32 runners, just 14 of whom would end up finishing the race. In the end, the course of the 1904 Olympic Marathon would be dubbed, by an observer, “the most difficult a human being was ever asked to run over.” In the days that followed, there was even some serious talk of striking the marathon from the Olympic games for good, as it was referred to as a "man-killing" event. This is the story of perhaps the strangest sporting event in modern history. https://allthatsinteresting.com/1904-olympic-marathon credits: https://allthatsinteresting.com/podcast-credits History Uncovered is part of the Airwave Media network: www.airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

History Uncovered digs into the corners of the past that standard narratives often overlook, presented by the team at All That's Interesting. This podcast is a weekly excavation of historical events, cultural shifts, and true crime stories that are as compelling as they are strange. Every episode focuses on a specific topic-whether it's a forgotten societal upheaval, an enigmatic artifact, or a crime that altered a community-examining the details and human stories that make it resonate. The aim is to move beyond dates and names to uncover the peculiar motivations, bizarre coincidences, and raw humanity that define our shared history. You'll hear a blend of rigorous research and engaging storytelling, designed to satisfy curiosity and challenge assumptions. New installments arrive each Wednesday, offering a deep dive into subjects the creators found too fascinating to leave alone. For those who finish an episode and immediately want to know more, the digital publisher All That's Interesting provides additional context and articles. This is a podcast for anyone who believes the past is never truly past, and that the most interesting histories are often those waiting just beneath the surface.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

History Uncovered
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