#ultramarathon

After a horrific accident that left him with splintered bones and a traumatic brain injury, doctors told Todd Barcelona that he’d likely never run again. So he and his wife decided to run farther than they ever had before. 

Issue no. 152, “The Extra Mile,” is now live:

Sometimes, Todd’s determination almost outweighed his capabilities. In January 2016, the Barcelonas ran the Herb Parsons Trail half-marathon. Todd typically ran on flat surfaces, but this was a trail race. Because he still struggled with mobility in his ankles, it was difficult to maneuver his feet over rocks and roots. Again and again, he tumbled to the ground—so often that it scared him. But he picked himself back up, and after three hours he and Allison finished together.

In April 2016, the Barcelonas ran the Tanglefoot Trail marathon in Mississippi, Todd’s first full marathon since the crash. He finished in about five hours—remarkably, that wasn’t too far off the time it took him to complete the last marathon he ran before the crash. But the Barcelonas were a little bored by the course. They decided that they needed a bigger goal.

Less than 60 years ago, Katherine Switzer had to sneak into the Boston Marathon because women were thought to be incapable of running a marathon.

When you think of sports gear, what do you imagine? Stretchy synthetic fabric, baseball caps with stiff brims, huarache sandals...

...yes! Join us as we talk sports gear from head to toe, and share deep dives into questions you didn't know you had, like

💡Who invented the sports bra, and when? (Spoiler alert: two women, less than fifty years ago!)

⚾Why is the baseball cap round, instead of shaped like a "tiny layer cake"?

💣What does synthetic fabric have to do with explosives?

🥇Who won the Guachochi Ultramarathon when she was 22 while wearing sandals, beating out 500 competitors?

🏈What is the Ravens' secret weapon against other football teams?

Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafty pals.

Listen in to Episode 33 of Handmade History, Sports Gear from Head to Toe, in your favorite player or at the link in our bio. You'll hear tons of fun facts to share at your next hockey game (go Fleet!!!).

Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafty pals. Listen in any player or on our website: https://handmadehistorypodcast.com/#listen

Show notes and sources: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode33

Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].

Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.

Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.