Famous Runners in History

Roger Bannister Statue

These days, running and jogging are such popular sports that there are plenty of candidates for fame and fortune. The problem? These days, people run so far and so long that it’s a real challenge to gain notoriety for running alone. But throughout history, there have been famous runners that helped shape the history of exercise. This article will take a look at these famous runners and explain their contribution to the sport of running.

-Pheidippides the Athenian.

Pheidippides is famous for running the first “marathon” by running 26 miles from Marathon to Athens in order to inform the Athenians about the Greek victory over the Persians. Pheidippides is just as famous for dying shortly thereafter, the first victim of exhaustion from a marathon.

What people don’t know about Pheidippides is that he ran some 150 miles in two days before that marathon, making him an ultramarathon runner, as well. Pheidippides was incredibly useful as a runner, asking the Spartans to aid the Athenians and then making the Battle of Marathon announcement.

-Royal Road Runners.

The Persian “Royal Road” was a delivery system that went across the Persian Empire. Along the road, every several miles, runners would be posted. A message would travel from runner to runner, allowing each runner to run as quickly as they could. These runners aren’t only famous for constructing an amazingly efficient communication system, but for their determination. The “Neither rain nor sleet” motto used by the U.S. postal service is inspired by the Royal Road Runners.

-Roger Bannister.

The first man to run a mile in under four minutes, Bannister opened up the possibilities of speed running. In 1954, when the record was broken, it had been considered by some to be incredibly difficult. These days, it is one of the standards for speed runners, and has been accomplished by many people the world over. Even so, Bannister was an intrepid spirit and will always be “the first.”

-Jesse Owens.

Winning four gold medals during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens represented the United States and pioneered minority athletics for the next generation. He overcame incredible odds to stun the world in Berlin and the world of athletics has never been the same.

You don’t have to be a famous runner to enjoy running, but perhaps you can use some of these examples to inspire you when you feel tired or like giving up. In particular, the example of the Royal Road runners, who ran even during the rain, the sleet, and the hail, will be important to remember. Stay on track and remember how rewarding running can be.

Photo Credits: sashafatcat

Originally posted 2009-04-20 05:18:38.

This post involves: