The Long Run (Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool)

The dramatic story behind the running and marathon boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, featuring the stories of Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and many others, about how a generation of runners turned the marathon 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 one-dollar entry fee, and only one woman competed. Fifty-four years later, nearly fifty thousand runners from all over the world finished the same race. Almost half were women. More than three times as many runners applied, and over two million spectators watched. Marathons are inclusive, fully global, and still exploding in popularity.

How did we get from there to here? As Martin Dugard, longtime 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 celebrates these athletes— Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, Joan Benoit, 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 follows Shorter through his early training and his triumph in Munich; Prefontaine in his legendary races, disappointing Olympics, and tragic death; and Benoit and Waitz in their eleven hardwon duels before Benoit won the first women’s Olympic Marathon and Waitz broke the tape in the first of five New York City Marathon victories.

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.

While major retailers like Amazon may carry The Long Run (Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.

We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.

Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of The Long Run (Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool).