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Podcast: Ultrarunning History
Episode: 30: 1927 Redwood Indian Marathon – 480 Miles
Description: By Davy Crockett
1893 Native American Relay in Taos, New Mexico
For centuries, many Native Americans were known to be outstanding long-distance runners who could run ultra-distances. Their talents were used in important roles to carry messages and news to distant communities. One of the most famous ultra-messaging events took place in 1680 when a very coordinated system of message runners were dispatched from Taos Pueblo, in present-day New Mexico to Hopi Villages in present-day Arizona, nearly 400 miles away, to coordinate a successful, simultaneous, revolt involving 70 villages against their Spanish oppressors.
In the 1860s a Mesquakie runner in his mid-50s ran 400 m...