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Podcast: Ultrarunning History
Episode: 126: Frank Hart – Part 1: First Black Ultrarunning Star
Description: By Davy Crockett
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Read the full story of Frank Hart in my new book: Frank Hart: The First Black Ultrarunning Star
In 1879, just twelve years after the Civil War ended, Frank Hart of Boston, Massachusetts, became the first black running superstar in history, and the most famous black athlete in America. In a sense, he was the Jackie Robinson of the sport of ultrarunning in the 19th century, overcoming racial barriers to compete at the highest level in the world, in the extremely popular spectator sport of ultrarunning/pedestrianism.
Frank Hart’s full story ha...