Product Description
Relive the high drama and rich details of the past century’s Olympic marathons!

Coauthor David Martin—the foremost authority on the history of the race and the performances of the athletes in it—presents a unique and multifaceted look at the Olympic marathon. He and Olympic marathon expert Roger Gynn have teamed up to provide a definitive resource that goes beyond statistics to offer readers a vivid chronicle of the athletes and their memorable marathon performances. For every Olympic marathon since 1896, you’ll find a detailed narrative of how the race was run, fascinating biographical details of the top finishers, the political climate surrounding the race, and a map with street descriptions of the actual race course.

Generously illustrated, often with rare and never-before-published photos, a pictorial glimpse is provided into the contemporary atmosphere and dynamics of each race. From the first marathon winner, Spiridon Louis, to legends like Emil Zátopek, Frank Shorter, and Joan Benoit Samuelson, you'll find insights and race details you can't find anywhere else. If you're a fan of running or the Olympics, this is the one book you will enjoy again and again for many Olympic years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Description of The Olympic Marthons through 2000, Men and Women
Well done decent capsules on the Olympic Marathons up through the year 2000. The book contains very good descriptions of the contenders and the races as they unfold. Also contains a great collection of pictures such as Ron Clarke, who ran the 5K and 10K (medaled), leading the Tokyo marathon, finishing 9th. Beside the descriptions of the runners, the author includes the top finishers splits so you can see how they parried over the miles, includes a list of the top 10 finishers and the post race career of the gold medalist. The women of course join in 1984 when their first Olympic marathon comes into play. The stories, list of splits and finishers is just a great reference and the race descriptions are pleasant to read. One picture is so fitting and reminiscent of the seemingly bronze place finisher at the 2008 Olympics slipping to fourth in total helplessness on the last lap; there is an early picture of the leader of a race on the track running in the second lane on a curve while being passed on the inside by one and then a second runner, relegating the leader to bronze on that last lap and he appears, like the Ethiopian in 2008, to be defenseless.

David and Roger -
I have known David and Roger since the 70's and have other books by them.They love running foot races and it shows. You can count that this will be the best researched and well written book. I was not disappointed.I dug in and read the book over a couple of weeks.If it is not in this book then it is an unproved rumor.

Great Book for Runners
If you are a runner (especially a marathoner) you have to get this book.It goes through every marathon in Olympic history, giving each race history, events, course, statistics, etc.It is very thorough, while pacing itself to get in all the Olympic marathons into a single volume.And, it was written in an interesting and readable manner.

The competition and sport of the races themselves give a great basis for an exciting read.

If you are doing a research project (like I was) this was the only book I would recommend - or, at least the first book.I could not find a book anywhere that showed the 1960 Rome Olympic course.Martin and Gynn had it.In fact, their race course map was better than the map a friend obtained for me from the Italian Olympic Library (Federazione Italiana Di Ateletica Leggera).

Fantastic, encyclopedic, and detailed historical review.
The authors, Martin and Gynn, have put together an unbelieveably detailed review of every Olympic Marathon in the modern era.The detail provided brings the excitement of each successive Marathon alive.The Olympic Marathon is, perhaps, the most grueling Olympic event, and the comprehensive coverage of each race makes the reader feel as if it's taking place before their very eyes.Read this book and you'll get a sense of the drama of the event, the personal history of the runners, and the historical setting of each race.The authors have even reconstructed old Olympic documents to trace the paths each Olympic Marathon took.The information in this book is truly encyclopedic, and the authors have given us with a wonderful sense of what this race is about.This book is a gem. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1922 the United States selected 22 women to compete in the Women's World Games in Paris. Upon their return, female physical educators severely criticized their efforts, decrying "the evils of competition."

Wilma Rudolph's triumphant Olympics in 1960 sparked renewed support for women's track and field in the United States. From 1922 to 1960, thousands of women competed, and won many gold medals, with little encouragement or recognition. This reference work provides a history, based on many interviews and meticulous research in primary source documents, of women's track and field, from its beginnings on the lawns of Vassar College in 1895, through 1980, when Title IX began to create a truly level playing field for men and women. The results of Amateur Athletic Union Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships since 1923 are given, as well as full coverage of female Olympians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must-have track and field reference.
As a Physical Education teacher and former Chair of a SUNY Department of Health and Physical Education, I found this book to be an excellent resource.It is well researched, compulsively thorough, and presentedclearly.The book is a boon for those looking for any information relatedto women's track and field from its inception in 1895 to 1980.It followsthe significant setbacks and victories of women's track and field in aninteresting narrative backed up by reams of statistics.

The only book of its kind---Everything you want to know!
This book is a must for all public and college libraries so that the thousands of young women in high schools and colleges who run every day have access to the history of their sport. It includes everything anyone would want to know about women's track and field history...louise mead tricard (author) ... Read more

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Athletics has become Britain's most successful sport, and this work investigates the human cost of that success. It charts the trials and tribulations of the Olympic Games' principal sport which have included the achievements of Coe, Ovett, Thompson, Christie and Gunnell. ... Read more

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Track and Field is the most basic of athletic competition as it measures athletes' speed, strength, and coordination.Since the revival of the ancient Olympic games in 1896, the sport has provided its share of inspiring moments as well as controversies. (20020901) ... Read more

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Presenting a survey of sports in ancient Greece, this work describes ancient sporting events and games. It considers the role of women and amateurs in ancient athletics, and explores the impact of these games on art, literature and politics. ... Read more

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Each title of The Olympics examines the the Olympic Games from ancient times, then the revival of the 1890s through to today's multi-million pound business. From the history of the games to which events are included and why, and from scandals to record breakers, The Olympics puts the reader at the centre of the action with fact-packed text, dramatic full-colour photos, facts and statistics. ... Read more

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Throughout most of human history, running was necessary for survival. In present times, it has become an ever-popular way to promote physical fitness. This work takes a close look at the history of running from the era when running was a survival skill to the contemporary age, when people run for enjoyment. Questions such as why the Greeks considered swiftness of foot the most highly prized quality and why we run counterclockwise around a track are answered in this in-depth history that also includes anecdotes and legends about the history and lore of running. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Highly Recommend For any Sports Fan!!
Breaks running down into 7 time periods from I. Running by Pre-and Early Humans (5,000,000-200,000 BC) all the way to VII The Modern Superstars (1950-2000). Covers the history of running spicing in some great biographies within the stories. Learn about the famous 20th century stars like Carl Lewis, Emil Zatopek and Haile Gebresilasie as well as obscure 19th century runners like George Seward, Harry Hutchens and Amy Howard.
Details how running began, the ancient Olympics, running naked, improvements in time keeping, all sorts of things that most runners never even think of. Running Through the Ages has great illustrations and excellent writing style. Ed Sears has really done his research. Whether you are a runner or simply a sports fan, I highly recommend this book. Not just track fans but all "serious" sports fans should pick up a copy of this great work!

An Inspiring and Exciting History of Running
Running Through the Ages is the most absorbing historical account of running and runners I have read. Its scope is wider than anything previously attempted, ranging from prehistory to the end of the twentieth century, and taking in professional running for men and women as well as the more familiar amateur era that dominated the last century. It is supported by hundreds of rare illustrations, most of which will be new, even to historians of the sport. There is a six-page bibliography and a comprehensive index. Edward Sears is a runner himself, and he wrotes with insight and enthusiasm as well as the skill of a storyteller. His section on George Seward, "The American Wonder", is a revelation. There are superb assessments of athletes as varied as Deerfoot, Arthur Duffey, Paavo Nurmi, Helen Stephens, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Bill Rodgers, Buddy Edelen and Haile Gerbrselassie, for this author has the deep knowledge of the sport to give credit to great and lesser names. All the great races are vividly described and the dramas of the Olympic arena expertly chronicled. This is a fine, inspiring and articulate book. I don't merely recommend it to anyone interested in the sport; I urge you to read it. ... Read more

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Tells the remarkable story of one of Ireland's greatest yet neglected sporting heroes, Peter O'Connor, 1906 Olympic gold medallist, long jump world record holder and Irish nationalist. This book brings to life a forgotten era of Irish athletic achievement and provides a fascinating social commentary of the life of a young man of ambition in late Victorian Ireland and the early years of the twentieth century. It also describes the frustration of many Irish nationalist athletes of the time who had to compete for Britain on the international stage. ... Read more

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