Welcome to Racing Past

Welcome to Racing Past, a not-for-profit website devoted to the history of competitive running. I have just uploaded a new and much fuller profile of the great Swedish runner Arne Andersson. I seem to be on a Swedish kick at the moment as this profile follows my article on the Vålådalen training camp. I am also rewriting the profile of Andersson's big rival Gunder Hägg. This has been held up as I need some material in Swedish translated. I bought a Swedish dictionary and tried to translate myself, but it was too time-consuming.

I am planning two book reviews: Bob Philips' 3:59.4: The Quest for the Four-Minute Mile and John Bryant's biography of Chris Brasher.

My website is growing fast. Having worked through the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, I am now into the 1970s--when not in Sweden!  I have more a dozen profiles planned. They should take me about a year to complete.

My aim with this website is to share my research with other like-minded track fans. I appreciate feedback (especially corrections and omissions) as I am looking for help to improve and extend my articles. I thank all those who have written. I try to respond to all comments. 

John Cobley

April 23, 2013