Bonus: ESPN Running & Racing

·34 min·3 clips

Ross recalls a 1989 Florida 5K where runners pegged their finish times on a washing line for a crowd-sourced results system.

This bonus episode of The Streak Triathlon Podcast features host Ross sharing a 1989 ESPN program called "Running & Racing" and recounting his teenage trip to Florida. Ross is the main narrator, and the episode includes audio clips from the vintage show hosted by former miler Marty Liquori. The episode explores a niche piece of sports broadcasting history and a personal memory from the host's youth. Ross took a family trip to Florida in August 1989, where he trained, raced a hot 5K with a unique manual timing system, and later discovered the ESPN show. The recovered episode from July 2, 1989, features interviews with 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot and 1979 Ironman champion Tom Warren. It includes a highlight package from the Jacksonville River Run 15K, won by John Halverson and Kathy O'Brien, with commentary from Tony Reavis. Segments offer agility tips from runner Lynn Williams, shoe advice from a Foot Locker manager promoting Saucony, and a triathlon hydration tip from Dave Scott that is actually an ad for XSEED. The show also covers the quirky "ride and tie" event with Bob Babbitt and profiles runner Keith Brantley. A segment called "Cycling's Great Events" presented by Connie Paraskevin-Young highlights the Tour of Somerville. Ross notes the show's production company, Salmini Films, has a YouTube channel with historic race footage like Alberto Salazar's 1981 NYC Marathon win. He expresses a desire to find more episodes and learn the show's full history, revealing his own passion for running history. A surprising detail is the host's memory of a 5K where runners manually wrote their finish times on paper and pegged them to a washing line for results. The ESPN show itself is a rapid-fire mix of interviews, event highlights, and disguised advertisements. Ross points out the curious lack of information about "Running & Racing" online despite its professional production. The personal anecdote about buying a Mark Allen-style Nike vest and aero bars adds a layer of nostalgic memorabilia collecting. The tone is nostalgic and deeply archival, blending personal anecdote with media archaeology. The style is conversational and exploratory, as Ross pieces together his memory with the found footage and expresses his curiosity. It is educational in its presentation of a forgotten TV show and reflective of a specific era in endurance sports. This episode would appeal to triathlon and running history enthusiasts who enjoy obscure sports media and personal stories from the late 1980s. Listeners with no interest in vintage endurance sports broadcasting or personal nostalgia might find it too niche.

As heard by us

Archive radio, family memory, and race detail give the bonus episode a crisp, specific momentum.

Ross folds a short bonus episode around two threads: a 1989 Florida family trip and a saved cut of Running and Racing. The opening memory is concrete enough to stick, with Monarch Airlines, Bangor, Maine, and a first triathlon that already seems to be pulling him toward faster…

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Why you'd press play

A 1989 Florida family trip opens into old Running and Racing audio.

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