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The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool
A dramatic narrative telling the story behind the running and marathon boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, featuring the stories of Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Grete Waitz, and many others, and how a generation of runners turned a formerly obscure distance into a national obsession
On September 3, 1970, the New York City Marathon was run for the first time. One hundred twenty-seven runners paid a $1 entry fee. The race was won by a Long Island firefighter who came to the starting line straight from his overnight shift. Only one woman competed. All but one runner was a New York resident.
Fifty-four years later, nearly fifty thousand runners finished the same race. Nearly half were women. More than three times as many runners applied, and over two million spectators watched. Today, runners from all over the world run the NYC Marathon, and many others like it. Marathons are inclusive, fully global, and still exploding in popularity.
How did we get from there to here? As Martin Dugard, long-time runner, running coach, and #1 New York Times bestselling author explains, it was thanks to four very special runners who changed the way America, and the world, saw running. The Long Run will celebrate these athletes—Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz—and many more, sharing stories of the specific races and social movements that transformed running from a niche sport to a national obsession. It is a story with big characters, enormous moments, and a historical arc that has never been completely explored. The Long Run will reveal how the sport of running, and the race, that we all know and love became iconic--and how “finishing a marathon” became a top bucket-list goal for runners and non-runners alike.
On September 3, 1970, the New York City Marathon was run for the first time. One hundred twenty-seven runners paid a $1 entry fee. The race was won by a Long Island firefighter who came to the starting line straight from his overnight shift. Only one woman competed. All but one runner was a New York resident.
Fifty-four years later, nearly fifty thousand runners finished the same race. Nearly half were women. More than three times as many runners applied, and over two million spectators watched. Today, runners from all over the world run the NYC Marathon, and many others like it. Marathons are inclusive, fully global, and still exploding in popularity.
How did we get from there to here? As Martin Dugard, long-time runner, running coach, and #1 New York Times bestselling author explains, it was thanks to four very special runners who changed the way America, and the world, saw running. The Long Run will celebrate these athletes—Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz—and many more, sharing stories of the specific races and social movements that transformed running from a niche sport to a national obsession. It is a story with big characters, enormous moments, and a historical arc that has never been completely explored. The Long Run will reveal how the sport of running, and the race, that we all know and love became iconic--and how “finishing a marathon” became a top bucket-list goal for runners and non-runners alike.
- GenresSportsHistoryNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2026
49 people are currently reading
4534 people want to read
About the author
Martin Dugard
54 books420 followersMartin Dugard is the New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Taking Series — including Taking Berlin (2022) and Taking Paris (2021).
Book Two in the Taking series is titled Taking Berlin, covering the final nine months of World War II in Europe. Taking Berlin goes on sale November 1, 2022.
He is also the co-author of the mega-million selling Killing books, the bestselling non-fiction series in history: Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing England, Killing the Rising Sun, Killing the SS, Killing Crazy Horse, Killing the Mob, and the upcoming Killing the Killers.
Other works include the New York Times bestseller The Murder of King Tut (with James Patterson; Little, Brown, 2009); The Last Voyage of Columbus (Little, Brown, 2005); Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone (Doubleday, 2003), Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook (Pocket Books, 2001), Knockdown (Pocket Books, 1999), and Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth (McGraw-Hill, 1998). In addition, Martin lived on the island of Pulau Tiga during the filming of Survivor's inaugural season to write the bestselling Survivor with mega-producer Mark Burnett.
Book Two in the Taking series is titled Taking Berlin, covering the final nine months of World War II in Europe. Taking Berlin goes on sale November 1, 2022.
He is also the co-author of the mega-million selling Killing books, the bestselling non-fiction series in history: Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, Killing Reagan, Killing England, Killing the Rising Sun, Killing the SS, Killing Crazy Horse, Killing the Mob, and the upcoming Killing the Killers.
Other works include the New York Times bestseller The Murder of King Tut (with James Patterson; Little, Brown, 2009); The Last Voyage of Columbus (Little, Brown, 2005); Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone (Doubleday, 2003), Farther Than Any Man: The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook (Pocket Books, 2001), Knockdown (Pocket Books, 1999), and Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth (McGraw-Hill, 1998). In addition, Martin lived on the island of Pulau Tiga during the filming of Survivor's inaugural season to write the bestselling Survivor with mega-producer Mark Burnett.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 10, 2025
What a trip down memory lane. I did my first marathon in 1994 and spent a lot of time reading books about the marathon greats and the history of the marathon. This book put a fun twist on some old stories about the legends in this great sport. It made me feel like all the old books I read just told the facts. In this book, you get more of the personal stories and first hand accounts. Dugard does a great job describing the events (both victories and defeats), so wonderful that you could almost feel like you were there watching them unfold.
Personally, after 111 lifetime marathons/ultra marathons I still get nervous every time I wait at the start line and overwhelmed with emotion as I cross each finish line. This book was a wonderful book to read as I train for my next adventure.
Personally, after 111 lifetime marathons/ultra marathons I still get nervous every time I wait at the start line and overwhelmed with emotion as I cross each finish line. This book was a wonderful book to read as I train for my next adventure.
April 15, 2026
Thank you Penguin Random House for an ARC to review. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I take issue with the writing style and balance of content in the narrative arc, but overall I recommend it for captivating details and analysis of the running boom's evolution and the colorful characters who made it happen. Please read my full review on my newsletter: https://sarahrunning.substack.com/p/m...
Excerpt:
Dugard’s book left me wanting more from the thin profiles of Waitz and Benoit. He (or his publisher) put the two women on the cover and in the subtitle, striding along with Pre and Shorter as if equals, but in the 290-page book, fewer than 30 pages are devoted to spotlighting Grete and Joanie toward the end.
As a reader, you get the feeling Dugard’s heart was in the male-centric story of the 1960s through mid-‘70s because that’s the era that inspired him as a boy and teen to run. I really can’t fault him for that. The rise of long-distance running—both by competitive athletes and slow hobby-joggers—is fascinating, starting with JFK’s exhortation for physical fitness and the long-walk fad. The best chapters involve Coach Bill Bowerman’s pivotal role in the mid-’60s popularizing jogging, followed by the dominance of Pre and Shorter.
Excerpt:
Dugard’s book left me wanting more from the thin profiles of Waitz and Benoit. He (or his publisher) put the two women on the cover and in the subtitle, striding along with Pre and Shorter as if equals, but in the 290-page book, fewer than 30 pages are devoted to spotlighting Grete and Joanie toward the end.
As a reader, you get the feeling Dugard’s heart was in the male-centric story of the 1960s through mid-‘70s because that’s the era that inspired him as a boy and teen to run. I really can’t fault him for that. The rise of long-distance running—both by competitive athletes and slow hobby-joggers—is fascinating, starting with JFK’s exhortation for physical fitness and the long-walk fad. The best chapters involve Coach Bill Bowerman’s pivotal role in the mid-’60s popularizing jogging, followed by the dominance of Pre and Shorter.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Running as a sport has had a long and interesting history. The marathon event is the premier race, testing an athlete’s endurance and mental fitness. This book by Martin Duggar’s, a marathon runner himself, tells the interesting period from the 1970s where the marathon became more popular for both runners and spectators.
The story actually starts in ancient Greece. The legend of Pheidippides running to tell the people of Athens about the victory at the battlefield of Marathon is a great story, but Dugard shows why that myth doesn’t hold up. The story of why the length of a marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards also is questioned as Dugard explains that the legend of the extra 385 yards being added so the finish line is directly in front of Queen Mary’s box doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. These stories along with others make this early part of the book very interesting.
However, it gets even better when Dugard starts writing about the great runners named in the subtitle of the book. Steve Prefontaine was THE MAN for running in the early and mid-70s as his popularity soared before his tragic death in 1975. Frank Shorter’s gold medal for the marathon brought that race home to millions of American viewers. Joan Benoit Samuelson and Greta Waitz were early pioneers in breaking the glass ceiling (wrongly constructed by the AAU and officials of the Boston and New York City Marathons) for women running long distances. Each of these athletes’ stories are fascinating and make for great reading. It should also be noted that Dugard writes about those two marathons and important milestones for them such as when the New York City Marathon became a run through all five boroughs.
Whether you’re an experienced marathon runner, a runner who settles for shorter distances or even a non-runner, this book is sure to be one that a reader will want to add to their shelves.
I wish to thank Dutton for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
The story actually starts in ancient Greece. The legend of Pheidippides running to tell the people of Athens about the victory at the battlefield of Marathon is a great story, but Dugard shows why that myth doesn’t hold up. The story of why the length of a marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards also is questioned as Dugard explains that the legend of the extra 385 yards being added so the finish line is directly in front of Queen Mary’s box doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. These stories along with others make this early part of the book very interesting.
However, it gets even better when Dugard starts writing about the great runners named in the subtitle of the book. Steve Prefontaine was THE MAN for running in the early and mid-70s as his popularity soared before his tragic death in 1975. Frank Shorter’s gold medal for the marathon brought that race home to millions of American viewers. Joan Benoit Samuelson and Greta Waitz were early pioneers in breaking the glass ceiling (wrongly constructed by the AAU and officials of the Boston and New York City Marathons) for women running long distances. Each of these athletes’ stories are fascinating and make for great reading. It should also be noted that Dugard writes about those two marathons and important milestones for them such as when the New York City Marathon became a run through all five boroughs.
Whether you’re an experienced marathon runner, a runner who settles for shorter distances or even a non-runner, this book is sure to be one that a reader will want to add to their shelves.
I wish to thank Dutton for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Man, I really hate running. I love this book, though! Martin Dugard tells the story of how America started its love affair with the marathon, jogging, and getting outside.
If you are familiar with Dugard's previous books, then I don't need to sell you all that much on this one. Dugard resurrects names you never knew before or maybe forgot, while reframing names you definitely heard before. It just so happens that we are talking about long distance runners. I was struck at how Dugard's short, action oriented sentences come off differently in this narrative. In his World War II books, his rat a tat sentence structure made you feel the adrenaline rush of battle. Here, the same flow actually feels like it slows down the story to make it feel like you are out for a leisurely jog.
Normally, my favorite parts of Dugard's books are the utterly bizarre facts he finds and presents to the reader. For instance, do you know why the marathon is as long as it is? It takes an actual investigation to find the culprit or I should say culprits. However, this particular facet of myth-busting came back to bite me personally. It turns out my favorite dorky history fact is a myth. I'll never forgive him.
That all said, I found the best part of this book to be Dugard's personal story. This isn't a memoir, but Dugard is a runner and the sport was a major solace to him in his youth. He provides just enough personal insight to allow the reader to connect with the runners we may not have a personal connection to. Steve Prefontaine is probably the most recognizable name in the book, but almost everyone else is probably only known to the most hardcore runners. In summary, you don't have to love running (and I certainly don't) to really like this book.
(This book was provided as an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and Dutton Books.)
If you are familiar with Dugard's previous books, then I don't need to sell you all that much on this one. Dugard resurrects names you never knew before or maybe forgot, while reframing names you definitely heard before. It just so happens that we are talking about long distance runners. I was struck at how Dugard's short, action oriented sentences come off differently in this narrative. In his World War II books, his rat a tat sentence structure made you feel the adrenaline rush of battle. Here, the same flow actually feels like it slows down the story to make it feel like you are out for a leisurely jog.
Normally, my favorite parts of Dugard's books are the utterly bizarre facts he finds and presents to the reader. For instance, do you know why the marathon is as long as it is? It takes an actual investigation to find the culprit or I should say culprits. However, this particular facet of myth-busting came back to bite me personally. It turns out my favorite dorky history fact is a myth. I'll never forgive him.
That all said, I found the best part of this book to be Dugard's personal story. This isn't a memoir, but Dugard is a runner and the sport was a major solace to him in his youth. He provides just enough personal insight to allow the reader to connect with the runners we may not have a personal connection to. Steve Prefontaine is probably the most recognizable name in the book, but almost everyone else is probably only known to the most hardcore runners. In summary, you don't have to love running (and I certainly don't) to really like this book.
(This book was provided as an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and Dutton Books.)
April 20, 2026
The Long Run is a vivid and engaging account of how marathon running transformed from a niche pursuit into a global cultural phenomenon.
In this book, Martin Dugard traces the evolution of the sport through the lives and legacies of iconic athletes like Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its ability to blend personal stories with broader historical context. The narrative captures not just the races and records, but the cultural shift that elevated running into mainstream popularity.
The contrast between the early days of the New York City Marathon with its small, local field and its present day global scale provides a compelling framework for understanding how dramatically the sport has evolved.
Another key strength is the focus on the individuals who shaped this transformation. Each athlete is portrayed not just as a competitor, but as a figure who influenced how people perceived endurance, fitness, and personal achievement.
The inclusion of female pioneers, particularly Joan Benoit Samuelson and Grete Waitz, adds an important dimension, highlighting the role of women in expanding the accessibility and inclusivity of the sport.
The writing is energetic and accessible, making the history of distance running engaging even for readers who may not be deeply familiar with the sport.
Thematically, the book explores perseverance, cultural change, and the democratization of athletic achievement how running evolved into something that anyone, not just elite athletes, could aspire to.
Overall, The Long Run is an inspiring and well crafted narrative that captures a pivotal moment in sports history and the figures who helped redefine it.
In this book, Martin Dugard traces the evolution of the sport through the lives and legacies of iconic athletes like Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its ability to blend personal stories with broader historical context. The narrative captures not just the races and records, but the cultural shift that elevated running into mainstream popularity.
The contrast between the early days of the New York City Marathon with its small, local field and its present day global scale provides a compelling framework for understanding how dramatically the sport has evolved.
Another key strength is the focus on the individuals who shaped this transformation. Each athlete is portrayed not just as a competitor, but as a figure who influenced how people perceived endurance, fitness, and personal achievement.
The inclusion of female pioneers, particularly Joan Benoit Samuelson and Grete Waitz, adds an important dimension, highlighting the role of women in expanding the accessibility and inclusivity of the sport.
The writing is energetic and accessible, making the history of distance running engaging even for readers who may not be deeply familiar with the sport.
Thematically, the book explores perseverance, cultural change, and the democratization of athletic achievement how running evolved into something that anyone, not just elite athletes, could aspire to.
Overall, The Long Run is an inspiring and well crafted narrative that captures a pivotal moment in sports history and the figures who helped redefine it.
April 29, 2026
The Long Run
🏃♀️📖
by Martin Dugard
4 energetic stars
Thank you to Dutton for the ARC 💛
I am not exactly out here pretending to be a marathon girlie, but The Long Run made the rise of distance running feel surprisingly alive. This is not just a book about races. It is about obsession, grit, cultural change, and the wild little spark that turned running from a niche sport into something people build whole identities around. 🏅
Here’s what worked for me:
🏃 The stories of Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz are compelling and full of personality
📜 I loved the myth-busting around marathon history and how the race became what we know today
🎽 Dugard writes race moments with real energy, making victories and defeats feel immediate
💪 The sections on women pushing into marathon running were especially strong and inspiring
🌍 It gives a clear sense of how running became not just a sport, but a movement
What didn’t hit quite as hard:
🐢 The pacing wobbles in places, especially when the book shifts between history, biography, and cultural analysis
⚖️ Some runners and storylines felt more fully developed than others
📝 The writing style is punchy and readable, but occasionally a little too clipped for the bigger emotional moments
Still, this was engaging, informative, and way more interesting than I expected a book about marathon culture to be. Dugard clearly loves the sport, and that affection gives the book its heartbeat.
The Long Run is a great pick for runners, sports history fans, and anyone curious how a brutal 26.2 miles became a bucket-list dream for millions. It made me understand the magic a little better, even if I’m still cheering from the sidewalk with snacks. ✨
by Martin Dugard
4 energetic stars
Thank you to Dutton for the ARC 💛
I am not exactly out here pretending to be a marathon girlie, but The Long Run made the rise of distance running feel surprisingly alive. This is not just a book about races. It is about obsession, grit, cultural change, and the wild little spark that turned running from a niche sport into something people build whole identities around. 🏅
Here’s what worked for me:
🏃 The stories of Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Grete Waitz are compelling and full of personality
📜 I loved the myth-busting around marathon history and how the race became what we know today
🎽 Dugard writes race moments with real energy, making victories and defeats feel immediate
💪 The sections on women pushing into marathon running were especially strong and inspiring
🌍 It gives a clear sense of how running became not just a sport, but a movement
What didn’t hit quite as hard:
🐢 The pacing wobbles in places, especially when the book shifts between history, biography, and cultural analysis
⚖️ Some runners and storylines felt more fully developed than others
📝 The writing style is punchy and readable, but occasionally a little too clipped for the bigger emotional moments
Still, this was engaging, informative, and way more interesting than I expected a book about marathon culture to be. Dugard clearly loves the sport, and that affection gives the book its heartbeat.
The Long Run is a great pick for runners, sports history fans, and anyone curious how a brutal 26.2 miles became a bucket-list dream for millions. It made me understand the magic a little better, even if I’m still cheering from the sidewalk with snacks. ✨
May 4, 2026
This is a fantastic book in so many ways, and in ways that transcend running (and jogging!!) The common thread is running, of course, but Martin Dugard has a remarkable ability to weave into the history of running, and the history of runners some famous some not, the personal, political, cultural, and social events and trends that shaped the runners (including him), the sport, and the society we live in. And Dugard’s writing is compelling, even mixing in a bit (and just the right amount) of personal history in a way that adds to the story and the larger context – this is a proverbial page turner, tough to put down. Too often history is painfully dull and uninspiring, but those who know Dugard’s books and his writing style know that he is the opposite, taking his very thorough research and conveying it on the page in an entertaining and engaging way. In this book Dugard continues to display that unique talent – a talent that had me noticing my elevated heart rate as a flipped through pages reading about the 1972 Olympic Marathon, to name one example, when I know how the race ends! You do not need to love reading history to love this book. You do not need to be a runner or a jogger, or even a lover of sport, to love this book. If you love reading brilliantly written inspiring stories about inspiring people, and learning a lot while you’re doing it, read this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Running found me in 2012 when I was a senior in college. I had run as a kid, here and there, but it was mostly as a foray into world of "do not die during the school mile." In college, though, it was different. Running was an outlet of joy. The joy of moving my body, of connecting with others, of accomplishing a goal I didn't even think was in my vocabulary. And, sure enough, as I crested the finish line of the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, my whole world changed. I was hooked.
Martin Dugard, in "The Long Run" has put words to this feeling for me. This fantastic read was an easily digestible and deeply enjoyable history of the marathon. From the marathon's origin story (hello ancient Greece) to shoutouts of modern champs (like Des Linden, an icon!), Dugard encompasses just so much fascinating history and puts context to the running boom as we see it today.
I absolutely loved it.
Thanks for taking the time to write this one Martin. It was written like a love letter to this beautiful sport and wow am I here for it!
Martin Dugard, in "The Long Run" has put words to this feeling for me. This fantastic read was an easily digestible and deeply enjoyable history of the marathon. From the marathon's origin story (hello ancient Greece) to shoutouts of modern champs (like Des Linden, an icon!), Dugard encompasses just so much fascinating history and puts context to the running boom as we see it today.
I absolutely loved it.
Thanks for taking the time to write this one Martin. It was written like a love letter to this beautiful sport and wow am I here for it!
April 16, 2026
What a fantastic book! Written by best-selling author Martin Dugard, this book was well written, informative, and (most importantly) a lovely tribute to the wonderful sport of RUNNING! The author traces the history of the sport, particularly marathon running, from ancient Greece to the present. This book encompasses the history of running for both the truly talented and the average American who runs for fitness. I loved how this book was put together, and really appreciated how the author incorporated his personal history as a runner. His enthusiasm is contagious! The Long Run was written in an engaging and conversational style. Whether you know a lot about the history of this sport or not much at all, you will be sucked in and want to head out for a run after reading each chapter. What a fabulous book!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.
I thought this was such a fun look at the reasons running exploded in popularity in the early 70s.
Prefontaine is my favorite athlete of all time and it was really cool to read about the way Frank Shorter won gold in the marathon in 72 to start the match the lights the marathon craze. That’s a rabbit hole I may have to go down and read more about.
The author’s personal story about how watching Shorter’s victory was a perfect example of how the milestone affected people.
As a former high school runner and avid track fan I loved this book and feel like it’s a perfect read for any runner or fan of track and field.
I thought this was such a fun look at the reasons running exploded in popularity in the early 70s.
Prefontaine is my favorite athlete of all time and it was really cool to read about the way Frank Shorter won gold in the marathon in 72 to start the match the lights the marathon craze. That’s a rabbit hole I may have to go down and read more about.
The author’s personal story about how watching Shorter’s victory was a perfect example of how the milestone affected people.
As a former high school runner and avid track fan I loved this book and feel like it’s a perfect read for any runner or fan of track and field.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a wonderful book! Yes, it’s a microhistory of the marathon and running in the U.S. but Dugard’s voice is delightful. It feels as if you are keeping pace across 26.2 miles with him telling you stories as you keep pace. The facts are illuminating but the asides are just as insightful. Too often historians/biographers are afraid to share their joy and enthusiam about their subject but Dugard enjoyment comes through and only adds to the reading experience. Although a two-time Chicago marathoner, this book would be of interest to any sports fan, Olympic fanatic, or couch-to-5Ker. Plan to buy copies for the runners in my life.
April 27, 2026
The narrator of this book was so good that it really improved on the original. I liked the book though - I had to go and watch the video of Prefontaine at the 1972 Munich Olympics right after the author watched it with his wife. The announcer kept talking about the "chunky American" although he didn't seem that chunky to me! I didn't know anything about Frank Shorter and I'd never heard of Grete Waitz. Jim Fixx was also important with his running book, and Oprah gets a big shout out for showing that people who didn't look like marathoners (i.e. skinny, white men) could run marathons too. I did enjoy the idea of the author finding his people as a child when he discovered running.
April 21, 2026
I especially enjoyed reading about Steve Prefontaine. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the free advance copy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews