Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| At Their Feet | 20240930 |  Writer, Poet and Runner Helen Mort tracks a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day to chart the development of humanity's relationship with running. In this episode, Helen examines the role running played in societies from Europe's Dark Ages to the early 20th century. She'll be finding out who the runners were, what inspired them to ran, and the impact it made on their social status. Helen will discover the surprising religious origins of Britain's modern-day position in global athletics. She'll chart the ups and downs of the participation and perception of women runners. And she'll learn how 17th century foot messengers became a powerful tool in the struggle between indigenous North Americans and European colonisers. Interviewees: Neil Baxter - Sociologist and running historian Sam Edwards - Historian, Loughborough University Bill Hillmann - Bull runner and writer Katie Holmes - Women's running historian Dustin Martin - Executive Director of Wings of America Peter Radford - Olympian and sports historian Roger Robinson - Runner and author of 'Running in Literature Thanks to Thor Gotaas, author of 'Running: A Global History Producer: Becca Bryers Helen Mort charts our relationship with running, from prehistoric times to present day. Poet and runner Helen Mort examines the role running played in societies from Europe's Dark Ages to the early 20th century. " Writer, Poet and Runner Helen Mort tracks a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day to chart the development of humanity's relationship with running. In this episode, Helen examines the role running played in societies from Europe's Dark Ages to the early 20th century. She'll be finding out who the runners were, what inspired them to ran, and the impact it made on their social status. Helen will discover the surprising religious origins of Britain's modern-day position in global athletics. She'll chart the ups and downs of the participation and perception of women runners. And she'll learn how 17th century foot messengers became a powerful tool in the struggle between indigenous North Americans and European colonisers. Interviewees: Neil Baxter - Sociologist and running historian Sam Edwards - Historian, Loughborough University Bill Hillmann - Bull runner and writer Katie Holmes - Women's running historian Dustin Martin - Executive Director of Wings of America Peter Radford - Olympian and sports historian Roger Robinson - Runner and author of 'Running in Literature Thanks to Thor Gotaas, author of 'Running: A Global History Producer: Becca Bryers Helen Mort charts our relationship with running, from prehistoric times to present day. Poet and runner Helen Mort examines the role running played in societies from Europe's Dark Ages to the early 20th century. | |
| Stay Alive | 20240923 | Writer, Poet and Runner Helen Mort trails a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day. Helen asks why we run, and finds out what running has meant through the ages. Helen looks at stories of running through the ages, to chart the development of humanity's relationship with running. She'll be finding out what role running played in societies through the ages, and how it has been represented in culture. In the first episode, Helen examines the role of running in prehistoric times. What role did running play in life of early humans, and what kinds of running did they do? Did we evolve to sprint, or to run long distances, and why? How did people represent running in their culture, such as cave art? Helen finds out if cultures of running in different indigenous communities today, with traditions stretching back thousands of years, can tell us anything about humanity's approach to running. Helen's route then leads to Ancient Greece, the site of some of the earliest known records of running as a sport. She relives the famous journey of the messenger Pheidippides to Athens, whose feat, and feet gave us the marathon. Interviewees: Dr Nathalie Hager, Lecturer in Art History, University of British Columbia Prof Dan Lieberman, Evolutionary Biologist at Harvard University and author 'Excercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health Dustin Martin, Executive Director, Wings of America Christopher McDougall, writer and author of 'Born to Run Andrea Marcolongo, Classicist and author of 'The Art of Running: Learning to Run Like a Greek'. Roger Robinson, Runner, Historian and author of 'Running in Literature'. Readings by Andi Bickers and Nuhazet Diaz Cano Thanks to Dr Judith Swaddling Producer: Sam Peach Helen Mort charts our relationship with running, from prehistoric times to present day. Writer, poet and runner Helen Mort trails a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day. Helen asks why we run and finds out what running has meant through the ages. " Writer, Poet and Runner Helen Mort trails a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day. Helen asks why we run, and finds out what running has meant through the ages. Helen looks at stories of running through the ages, to chart the development of humanity's relationship with running. She'll be finding out what role running played in societies through the ages, and how it has been represented in culture. In the first episode, Helen examines the role of running in prehistoric times. What role did running play in life of early humans, and what kinds of running did they do? Did we evolve to sprint, or to run long distances, and why? How did people represent running in their culture, such as cave art? Helen finds out if cultures of running in different indigenous communities today, with traditions stretching back thousands of years, can tell us anything about humanity's approach to running. Helen's route then leads to Ancient Greece, the site of some of the earliest known records of running as a sport. She relives the famous journey of the messenger Pheidippides to Athens, whose feat, and feet gave us the marathon. Interviewees: Dr Nathalie Hager, Lecturer in Art History, University of British Columbia Prof Dan Lieberman, Evolutionary Biologist at Harvard University and author 'Excercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health Dustin Martin, Executive Director, Wings of America Christopher McDougall, writer and author of 'Born to Run Andrea Marcolongo, Classicist and author of 'The Art of Running: Learning to Run Like a Greek'. Roger Robinson, Runner, Historian and author of 'Running in Literature'. Readings by Andi Bickers and Nuhazet Diaz Cano Thanks to Dr Judith Swaddling Producer: Sam Peach Helen Mort charts our relationship with running, from prehistoric times to present day. Writer, poet and runner Helen Mort trails a history of running, from prehistoric times to present day. Helen asks why we run and finds out what running has meant through the ages. | |
| 03 | Running The Show | 20241007 | Helen Mort charts our relationship with running, from prehistoric times to present day. Writer, poet and runner Helen Mort continues on the trail of the history of running, asking why we run and what it has meant to humanity through the ages. In this final episode she rounds the the corner into the 20th Century, and finishes by examining the role running plays in our life today.Helen explores how distance running became the sport we know today. She heads back to the races of one hundred years ago and finds out who took part, and who wasn't allowed to. She heads into the heart of the 'running boom' of the 1970s, which saw the emergence of 'jogging' as a phenomenon and the mass participation of running we see today, including big city marathons. One major factor was the creation of the cushioned running shoe by Nike, and Helen talks to the company's first employee, who thought up the name of the iconic sports brand. Helen charts the emergence of running in mass media, from adverts to cinema, and considers how narrative of running have changed. As she reaches the 21st century, Helen heads inside the mind of the modern runner and finds out about the psychology of running, its benefits and also its downsides. Thousands of people line to run a Parkrun each weekend, what does that tell us? Mass participation' still only reaches some however, and Helen also finds out about the movements to make running more inclusive which are gaining pace throughout the world. Contributors: Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, Author of Black Sheep: A Story of Rural Racism, Identity and Hope Dr Sam Edwards, Loughborough University Katie Holmes, Historian Vybarr Cregan Reid, Author of Footnotes: Why Running Makes Us Human Pro Steve Haake, Sheffield Hallam University Jeff Johnson, early employee of Nike With thanks to Thor Gotaas, author of 'A Global History of Running', Dr Nathalie Hager, Matt Rimmer and the MyRaceKit North team. Producer: Sam Peach Readings by Nuhazet Diaz Cano Helen Mort continues her history of running, rounding the corner into the 20th Century. Helen Mort continues her history of running, from prehistory to present day. In this episode she rounds the the corner into the 20th Century. |