Redwood Highway Marathon

The Redwood Highway Marathon[1] was a 480-mile (770 km) foot race created to promote the newly opened U.S. Highway 101 from Sausalito to Grants Pass, Oregon. It was the first official ultramarathon in U.S. history[2] and inspired the 1928 Trans-American Bunion Derby held on Route 66.

History

The race sparked local interest in running by establishing additional races such as the 1927 five-mile (8.0 km) Fitch Mountain Footrace (now a 10K), and a 1928 variation of the Napa Marathon, run 28 miles (45 km) from Napa, California city hall to Myrtleville.[3]

The Redwood Highway Marathon was promoted as a competition for Indians, known for long-distance running endurance.[4] "Mad Bull" won the race in 1927 after seven days, 12 hours and 34 minutes finishing at 12:18 a.m "Flying Cloud" took second place finishing at 8:40 a.m.[5]

In 1928, Manual Cordova, "Hummingbird" represented Healdsburg, Lake county was represented by "Klamath", Napa County by "Lutci", - "Melika"- Willits, "Jamon"- Marin county, "Bad Land Charlie" for Fortuna and "Flying Arrow" for Eureka, California.[6]

In 1928, "Flying Cloud" won first place and $5000, with Melika, a 62-year-old Zuni runner from New Mexico taking second place close behind and awarded $2500. "Chief Ukiah" took third place and $1000. Flying Cloud's 1928 time for the 482 miles was 168 hours and 22 minutes, bettering the mark set in 1927 by Mad Bull[7] by 13 hours. Mad Bull gave up the race at Crescent City.[8][9] A third race was being planned for 1929, but with the stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression, it was cancelled and never run again.[10][11]

Route

The races started with a short run from the Civic Center, San Francisco to the ferry terminal and officially restarted at the Sausalito ferry landing once crossing the bay.[12] With the Golden Gate Bridge still unfunded and unbuilt, the ferry was the only way across.

Stereotyping of Native American participants

Race promoters felt some of the runner's birth names were too common and invented stereotypical fake “Indian names” to boost interest and spectators. Karuk runners Johnny Southard became "Mad Bull," and Henry Thomas became "Flying Cloud." Melika, a Zuni runner kept his real name.[2] Manual Cordova, "Hummingbird," did not place in the Redwood Highway Marathon but won the inaugural 1927 Fitch Mountain Footrace. Hummingbird withdrew in Petaluma in the 1928 race due to an old knee injury.[13]

"Paleface Yellownred," reputed to be a prominent amateur athlete of San Francisco, was the only white runner in the 1928 Redwood Highway Marathon. Photographed wearing a Shell "400" yellow and red shirt and accompanied by his manager Hans Ohrt, a former champion bicycle racer, his birthname is unknown.[14] Paleface Yellownred was accompanied by a service truck equipped with a shower bath, ice chest, bunks and lockers, to arrange rest and eating periods with the least loss of time.[15]

Although the race exploited American Indian stereotypes, the prizes were significant for the runners. Mad Bull and Flying Cloud worked as hop pickers, with Mad Bull winning a hop picking championship in 1927.[16]

References

  1. ^ "1927 Redwood Indian Marathon – 480 Miles". Ultrarunning History. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b Keegan, Tara (September 2021). "Running the Redwood Empire: Indigeneity, Modernity, and a 480-Mile Footrace". University of Oregon.
  3. ^ "20 Indians to Take Part In Napa Marathon Sunday". Press Democrat. Vol. 55, Number 117. 16 May 1928. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Deerfoot: The Seneca World Champion Long-Distance Runner". American Indian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  5. ^ "MAD BULL WINS MARATHON RUN IN LONG GRIND Flying Cloud Second Indian To Finish In 480-Mile, Week-Long Race". San Pedro Daily News. Vol. XXV, Number 116. 22 June 1927. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Number Three for Healdsburg Runner In Marathon Race". Healdsburg Tribune. No. 179. 9 June 1928. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  7. ^ "COOLING HIS HEELS!". Los Angeles Examiner. Vol. XXIV, No. 195. 24 June 1927. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ^ "FLYING CLOUD WINS RACE TO GRANTS PASS". Blue Lake Advocate. Vol. 41, Number 7. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Redwood Race to be Great Event, Says Expert Here". Press Democrat. Vol. 55, Number 117. 16 May 1928. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ^ "Indian Redwood Marathon (Redwood Empire Run)". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  11. ^ "EVENT IS TOO COSTLY, VIEW OF BOOSTERS". Press Democrat. Vol. 71, Number 311. 29 December 1928. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  12. ^ "FOURTEEN TO START REDWOOD HIGHWAY MARATHON TUESDAY RACE EXPECTED TO TAKE AT LEAST TEN DAYS TO COVER DISTANCE". Healdsburg Tribune. No. 185. United Press. 13 June 1927.
  13. ^ "Observations". Healdsburg Tribune. No. 186. 18 June 1928. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Paleface Yellownred, reputed to be a prominent amateur athlete of San Francisco". Press Democrat. Vol. 55, no. 144. 16 June 1928. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  15. ^ ""PALEFACE" IS LAST MINUTE ENTRY IN INDIAN MARATHON UNOFFICIAL RUNNER PROVIDED. WITH SPECIAL TRUCK OF PROVISIONS". Healdsburg Tribune. No. 183. 14 June 1928. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  16. ^ "MAD BULL IS CHAMPION HOP PICKER AT PETERSON'S". Healdsburg Enterprise. Vol. L, Number 13. 22 September 1927.
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