The seven-mile Falmouth Road Race catapulted Cape Cod onto the running
radar. Frank Shorter winning gold in the 1972 Olympic marathon inspired
local barkeep Tommy Leonard to start a race in his own town. That
inaugural race in 1973 garnered fewer than one hundred runners.
Participation soon swelled to the thousands, thanks to the success of
organizers, volunteers, and talented fields, including running legends
like Bill Rodgers and Catherine Ndereba, as well as wheelchair champions
Bob Hall and Tatyana McFadden. Follow author Paul C. Clerici along every
bend and uphill battle of the race's history from the early stages of
the running boom to resetting the road-racing calendar.