When Running Made History (Sports and Entertainment)

When Running Made History (Sports and Entertainment)

by Roger Robinson (Author)

Synopsis

Robinson takes readers on a globe-trotting tour that combines a historian's insight with vivid personal memories going back to just after World War II. From experiencing the 1948 Austerity Olympics in London as a young spectator to working as a journalist in the Boston Marathon media center at the moment of the 2013 bombings, Robinson offers a fascinating first-person account of the tragic and triumphant moments that impacted the world and shaped the modern sport. He chronicles the beginnings of the American running boom, the emergence of women's running, the end of the old amateur rules, and the redefinition of aging for athletes and amateurs.

With an intimate perspective and insightful reporting, Robinson captures major historical events through the lens of running. He recounts running in Berlin at the time of German reunification in 1990, organizing a replacement track meet in New Zealand after the disastrous 2011 earthquake, and the triumph of Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bikila in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. As an avid runner, journalist, and fan, Robinson brings these global events to life and reveals the intimate and powerful ways in which running has intersected with recent history.

$68.65

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Illustrated
Pages: 312
Edition: Illustrated
Publisher: Syracuse University Press
Published: 16 Apr 2018

ISBN 10: 0815635788
ISBN 13: 9780815635789

Media Reviews

Robinson takes us through 60 years of significant moments in running history observed through his own
eyes. . . . I couldn't put it down and came away inspired.

--Jonathan Beverly author of Run Strong, Stay Hungry
From war-torn London to contemporary Kenya, from Emil Z topek to Kathrine Switzer, from Olympic stadiums to big-city marathons, When Running Made History explores the transformation of running in the modern era. Author-journalist Roger Robinson takes the reader on a globetrotting trek of epic proportions, creating a unique and personal contribution to the canon of running literature.--David Davis author of Showdown at Shepherd's Bush: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting Craze
There is no greater historian on the significance of running's past and present than Roger Robinson. His acute observations and journalist's eye for detail about the world's most popular participant sport, make When Running Made History a must-read.--Deena Kastor Olympic Marathon Medalist & American Record Holder
Author Bio
Roger Robinson is a world-class runner and journalist. He is the editor and author of numerous books, including Running in Literature. He was a senior writer for Running Times and is a frequent contributor to Runner's World and Canadian Running. He is emeritus professor of English at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Roger lives in New Paltz, New York, and Wellington, New Zealand, with his wife, women's running activist Kathrine Switzer.