LetsRun.com's Greatest American Distance Runner of All Time

LRC visitors recently voted Kastor, the US marathon record holder at 2:19:36, as the greatest women's US distance runner in history. Kastor talks about her amazing career that saw her go from being a pro on a gear-only contract, to one thrilled to be making $12,000 a year, to an Olympic medallist and US record holder.

What a great podcast we have for you this week as we devote the entire show to talking to Jim Ryun who recently was voted the Greatest American Distance Runner of All-Time on LetsRun.com. Ryun talks about his entire career including making the Olympics and running sub-4 in HS, breaking the WR as a college frosh (and meeting his wife on the same day), winning Olympic silver, getting tripped in '72 and much more including what his relationship with Alan Webb and Matthew Centrowitz is like.

Ryun, who set multiple middle-distance world records in the 1960s, won Olympic silver, appeared on 7 Sports Illustrated covers, and later served in the US House of Representatives, defeated women's champion Deena Kastor handily in the final, 62.1% to 37.9%.

And then there were two. You've named Deena Kastor and Jim Ryun as the greatest women's and men's distance runners in US history, but of the two, who had the better career?

LetsRun nation has spoken and voted Jim Ryun and Deena Kastor as the greatest men's and women's American distance runners of all time. Ryun took down Frank Shorter in the men's final while Deena Kastor came from behind to knock off Jenny Simpson in the women's final.

Who is the greatest American distance runner ever - Jenny Simpson or Deena Kastor? Frank Shorter or Jim Ryun?

We're now down to our men's and women's finals. Who is the Greatest American ever - Jenny Simpson or Deena Kastor? Frank Shorter or Jim Ryun?

LetsRun nation thinks that Jenny Simpson had the better career than Joan Benoit Samuelson. They are wrong. Rojo tells you why.
*MB: Has LetsRun nation lost its mind? Jenny Simpson is currently beating Joan Benoit in the voting for Greatest American Ever.

Who had the better career: Frank Shorter or Galen Rupp, Bernard Lagat or Jim Ryun. Vote now!

Who had the better career: Deena Kastor or Shalane Flanagan, Joan Benoit Samuelson or Jenny Simpson. Vote now!

Our quest to anoint the great American Distance runner of all-time is down to the Elite 8. Who had the better career: Frank Shorter or Rupp, Bernard Lagat or Jim Ryun, Deena Kastor or Shalane Flanagan, and Joan Benoit Samuelson or Jenny Simpson. Vote now!

The gloves are now off as our quest to find the Greatest American Distance Runner of All Time is now down to the Sweet 16 and the matchups are incredible.  Who is a bigger American GOAT - Galen Rupp or Meb Keflezighi, Matthew Centrowitz or Jim Ryun, Shalane Flanagan or Lynn Jennings, and Jenny Simpson or Emma Coburn?

A riveting 1st round is in the books and 2nd round voting in our quest to find the Greatest American Distance Runner of All Time is now open. Some of the matchups are amazing. How about: Billy Mills vs. Bill Rodgers,  Matthew Centrowitz vs. Dave Wottle, Shelby Houlihan vs. Molly Huddle and Ajee' Wilson vs. Madeline Manning. Vote now.