Bringing you the third book in my book review series.
C. C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race
The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America
By: Geoff Williams
Well, this is an odd little book I read a few years ago. It was quite different than any other running book I've ever read.
This book is about a 3,423 mile race from Los Angeles to New York City. In 1928, endurance events were all the rage. From flag pole sitting to dance marathons, everybody was participating and trying to beat records. It was in the middle of this that the legendary sports promoter C. C. Pyle put together what was probably the greatest endurance event of the decade: a race across the country.
This book gives a daily account of what happened and follows such characters as part Cherokee Andy Payne, Paul "Hardrock" Simpson, Mike Kelly, Ed Gardner, Charles Hart, and Frank Johnson. We get some back story on each runner and what motivated them to run the race. We also get a good look at C. C. Pyle himself and his crazy antics to not only put this race on, but to keep it going for 84 days.
If you're looking for a book that's full of historical context and pushes man to their limits, this is the one for you.
Another Bonus Video: Actual footage from the race