We spend a lot of time talking about the future of health, but what about the past? We often forget that healthy lifestyle is driven by the innovators of the health world from way back when.
We think this is an especially skipped over thought when it comes to the running industry. A non-runner or casual park observer might think that running is a simple act where you place one foot in front of the other and repeat in quick succession. In reality, running is not so simple.
A lot goes on in your body with each stride forward making running very complex whether you are doing so for the goal of living a healthier lifestyle or competing with elites. Needless to say, there is a lot that can be learned from the experts, but who are they? Can you even name one pioneer of the running industry?
In general, the most can be learned from the practitioners and coaches of the sport. Here are a few running pros we want to highlight:
1. Bill Bowerman
Bowerman is a legendary Univeristy of Oregon coach and a co-founder of Nike. Over his career he trained he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers. Talk about a resume, right? All of his successes were inspired by a trip to New Zealand in 1962 where he was introduced to the concept of jogging as a form of exercise. He later created a running show named the “Nike Cortez” that to this day is one of Nike’s most iconic footwear designs.
2. Arthur Lydiard
New Zealand runner and coach has been credited with popularizing the sport of running and making it a common activity across the sport world. Lydiard’s training methods were groundbreaking on distance running. Even today the training system of using periodization for peak performance is used consciously (or unconsciously) by runners everywhere. Lydiard was a strong promoter of running for your health—something modern runners still relate to.
3. Jim Fixx
Author of the bestselling book The Complete Book of Running, Fixx is credited with helping start the fitness revolution with a focus in demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging. Can you imagine being a major player in one of the first running booms? After dropping 60 pounds and kicking his smoking habit, he convinced an entire nation that running regularly would provide many health benefits to those that partook. His published book was the icing on the cake. Everyone was literally following in his footsteps. Ironically, one of the great innovators of the sport of running died during one of his routine ten mile runs at age 52.
4. Ted Corbitt
Corbitt was often called “the father of long distance running.” He was an an American long-distance runner who pioneered the concept of ultramarathons. He revived interest in the sport of running in the 1960s and 1970s when he launched the Road Runners Club of America and the New York Road Runners organization that is now 53-years strong. He also helped plan the New York City Marathon course which is one of the most iconic 26.2 miles.
5. Rob Wallack
Since 1978 Rob Wallack has owned and operated the Runner’s Den, one of the premier running retail stores in the country. When he originally established the Runner’s Den, running was so foreign that people would call asking if the store sold carpet runners. He also founded Raceplace Events which has been involved in the production of 1300+ events over the past 30 years. In 1878 running legend Bill Rodgers asked Wallack to partner with him on a race. The Runner’s Den Road Race was born and is now known as the fastest 10K in history based on the number of sub-30 performances.
These pioneers definitely belong in the running industry hall of fame. Tell us about any other noteworthy runners below.
CNN’s article of the 10 medical innovators inspired this post if you want to learn more about this history of health.
photo credit: darkmatter via photopin cc
