One of the fabled moments of Route 66 history was 1928’s Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Going more than 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to New York City, it gave early publicity to the fledgling U.S. Highway 66 and provided fame and $25,000 in prize money to Oklahoma native Andy Payne, who won the event.
Organizer and ultrarunner Serge Girard of France is reviving the event with his Footrace Across America, from Los Angeles to New York, starting June 19 for 70 days.
This is the ninth edition of the race, with the last one in 2004.
According to a story in the Vail (Colo.) Daily about participant Mark Mueller, 18 runners have signed up for the cross-country race. An Internet runners forum in Australia reports that the entry fee is a steep $6,000, and doesn’t include many accommodations. One has to wonder whether enough runners will sign up for the race to happen; apparently Girard canceled another race across Australia for the same reason.
Apparently the race doesn’t always follow the exact Route 66 route of the original. But it’s going to be on the Mother Road enough to warrant interest.
The best book about the original Bunion Derby is Geoff Williams’ “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race.” You can read my review of the book here. More than half of the original entrants failed to finish the grueling event.
My father #194 ran in the 1928 race. I am trying to get more info on him. How may I contact the author Geoff Williams. Can you help?