The neverending and really toasty Mojave Desert stretch of Route 66 (istock/gioadventures)

I don’t know about driving Route 66. But I think running Route 66 would be pretty awesome.

Back in 1928, when Route 66 was just a baby, civic leaders were looking for ways to publicize the road’s existence. Someone made a joke at a Route 66 dinner about hosting a footrace, and everyone laughed, according to “Route 66: The Mother Road.” But some folks didn’t think it was such a bad idea – and the Route 66 “Bunion Derby” was born. Contestants in the footrace would run from Los Angeles to Chicago along Route 66 and then up to the finish line at Madison Square Garden in New York. The winner of the race would receive $25,000.

On March 4, 1928, 275 runners lined up at the start, and 500,000 fans were there to watch them launch for Chicago. But 3,422.3 miles is a long way, and the Mojave Desert was like a desert – hot. By as early as day three, 107 runners had dropped out. At first, the race was led by two Finns and a marathoner from South Africa. But then a 22-year-old farm boy from Oklahoma named Andy Payne, who had never run a long distance race in his life, caught up with the leaders.

Andy quickly became the lovable Bunion Derby underdog. During his jog through his home state, school children were let out of class to watch their hero run by, and the governor set up a festival in Oklahoma City to greet him. Through the states of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, Andy ran side-by-side with an Italian from England named Peter Gavuzzi (a seasoned runner who was expected to win the race). The pair became pals. But then Gavuzzi had to drop out because of an infected tooth.

Seventy runners jogged the entirety of Route 66 to Chicago. But it was Andy who went on to finish the race first in New York — several hours before the remaining 54 who made it to Madison Square Garden. He’d been running for 87 days.

Like I said, driving Route 66 is one thing. But running it is way better.

For more on Route 66 and races…
What is the Death Race?
How the Cannonball Run Worked
How the Ironman Works
How a Marathon Works
13 Vintage Businesses Along Route 66