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Miles to Go

By: Peter McDonnell
Narrated by: Joan Benoit Samuelson, Carol Monda
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  • Summary

  • The first Olympic women's marathon and the battle for the right to run

    On August 5, 1984, millions of people around the world watched the first ever women’s Olympic marathon live on ABC. Until this day, women had never been allowed to run even a mile at the Games, much less a marathon. When Joan Benoit Samuelson broke away from the lead pack at mile 3, it was a shocker. No runner had ever attacked so early and won an Olympic marathon. But on August 5th, there were a lot of firsts. The history of women’s distance running is a largely untold story of triumph over discrimination. For much of the 20th century, America’s cinder tracks and open roads became unlikely battlegrounds for a handful of pioneering women runners who broke the gender barrier in races, showing that women can be athletes too, and helped to advance women’s civil rights. But the Olympics were a last barrier for female distance runners, making the first women’s marathon at the Games a major milestone. In fact, US marathons had been open to women for only a decade. And before that, women in the US were prohibited from competing in runs of more than a few miles. Before that, they were hardly even allowed on the track. This is the story of Joan Benoit Samuelson’s incredible journey to the Olympics and of the other women who paved the way and competed against her, whose passion for running also became a race for equality - and change - that continues today. Joan has run over 160,000 miles in her life… and counting. Miles to Go. *MILES TO GO is being released in honor of Women’s History Month, and on the 50th Anniversary of the 1972 passage of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.
    ©2022 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC
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Episodes
  • Miles to Go - Trailer

    Miles to Go - Trailer
    Mar 3 2022
    The first Olympic women's marathon and the battle for the right to run

    On August 5, 1984, millions of people around the world watched the first ever women’s Olympic marathon live on ABC. Until this day, women had never been allowed to run even a mile at the Games, much less a marathon. When Joan Benoit Samuelson broke away from the lead pack at mile 3, it was a shocker. No runner had ever attacked so early and won an Olympic marathon. But on August 5th, there were a lot of firsts. The history of women’s distance running is a largely untold story of triumph over discrimination. For much of the 20th century, America’s cinder tracks and open roads became unlikely battlegrounds for a handful of pioneering women runners who broke the gender barrier in races, showing that women can be athletes too, and helped to advance women’s civil rights. But the Olympics were a last barrier for female distance runners, making the first women’s marathon at the Games a major milestone. In fact, US marathons had been open to women for only a decade. And before that, women in the US were prohibited from competing in runs of more than a few miles. Before that, they were hardly even allowed on the track. This is the story of Joan Benoit Samuelson’s incredible journey to the Olympics and of the other women who paved the way and competed against her, whose passion for running also became a race for equality - and change - that continues today. Joan has run over 160,000 miles in her life… and counting. Miles to Go. *MILES TO GO is being released in honor of Women’s History Month, and on the 50th Anniversary of the 1972 passage of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.
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    1 min
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  • Episode 1: Last Shall Come First

    Episode 1: Last Shall Come First
    Mar 3 2022
    Joan and the world’s best marathoners meet in LA to compete in the first ever women’s Olympic marathon. Men have been competing in marathons since the modern games were created in 1896, so why did it take until 1984 for women to get the chance?
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    20 mins
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  • Episode 2: Cross the Line

    Episode 2: Cross the Line
    Mar 3 2022
    Joan runs in the lead pack as commentators speculate whether her surgically repaired knee will hold up. One of the people watching is Julia Chase Brand, who became the first woman - when Joan was just four years old - to break the gender barrier in distance running in 1961 by crashing the famous men’s only Manchester Road Race and making headlines.
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    25 mins
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What listeners say about Miles to Go

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Profile Image for Kt

Listen while you run

Made me run too fast! Buzzing to hear these women's stories. Very inspirational and loving to see how far we've come in such a short time.

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Inspiring and interesting

So much I didn’t know about women in sport. Loved hearing these inspiring woman and how they pursued their love of running during such adversity. Really interesting and well presented narrative.

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Inspiring Story

I loved this, and listened all in one go. As a (very) amateur runner I found these women so inspiring and even cried on the train while listening at one point!

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Profile Image for Richard Southworth

Highly recommended listening for runners

This is a brilliantly told and well-produced story about the struggles women faced to be allowed to compete in long-distance running, culminating in the first Olympic women’s marathon in 1984. While this will appeal to anyone with an interest in the themes involved, I think those who run themselves will especially get something out of it.

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Informative and interesting

Interesting stories. Really enjoyed listening with my 11 year old daughter, who also loved it and was inspired.

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Exciting and Educational

I loved this podcast! It's the exciting true story of women fighting for the right to run. I can't believe that I was alive when the fight first started and I didn't know about it! Well I do now!

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Loved this series

As a woman who plods I have loved this series what amazing women and fascinating stories

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