In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the return of the New York City Marathon and the history of long-distance racing.
Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- The fiftieth New York City Marathon was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus, but the race has returnedthis year.Natalia referred to historian Dylan Gottlieb’s Public Seminar article about the origins of the race and to runner Kathrine Switzer’s memoir, Marathon Woman.
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
- Natalia shared the latest episode of Vox Media’s Nice Try podcast, on which she contributes to a discussion of the history of the weight as a fitness accessory.
- Neil discussed the 2006 Chicago Tribune article, “Sushi and Rev. Moon.”
- Niki recommended a new podcast, Unclear and Present Danger, from Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz.







![A lantern slideshows four overlapping illustrations of the Earth depicting its tilt at different time periods in the past, present and future. Dates represented are 13000 BC, 5544 BC, 1921 AD, 2296AD. Handwritten in blue ink at bottom left corner of plate is the text 'G53 CLW [illegible] Aug '22'.](https://i0.wp.com/publicseminar.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Wragge_Earth.jpg?fit=768%2C749&ssl=1)





