Made with Pride: Runner's World founder Bob Anderson Talks 5-Star Sneakers
Inspired by his dream of competing in the Boston Marathon, Bob Anderson started Distance Running News in 1966, while he was still a high school student. Retitled Runner’s World in 1970, the magazine played a pivotal role in establishing running’s credentials as a legitimate sport. Feature articles on training, diet, race tactics, and hotly contested reviews of sneakers delivered Runner’s World an audience in the millions, before the company was sold in the mid 1980s. More than 40 years later, Bob is still an exercise evangelist and a serial entrepreneur. Just don’t call him a jogger, he was only interested in racing!
A stack of history
A young Bob beside his handy work
Runner's World used their 5-Star rating to name the year's best sneakers
New Balance goes From '$10 ad' to full-page Runner's World spread
New Balance advertising their unique size options
Running through the 5-Star criteria
And was it as amazing as you thought it would be?
Oh my gosh, I’ve run close to a thousand races in my life but the Boston Marathon is number one. It was just an incredible experience and I was thrilled my wife and son were with me that day. At the same time, that was also the year of the terrible bombing. Luckily I finished about a half hour before that happened. I ran 3:32:17 that day at age 65.
I didn’t connect that tragic year with the Boston race. That should have been a great day for you and a lot of other people.
Yeah, it was great, right up until the point the bomb went off. The experience of finally running through Boston and seeing the crowds was just beyond words. That doesn’t overshadow the victims and all the other people whose lives were destroyed that day, but the Boston Marathon is still an incredible race. What a tragic contrast to the joy that running brings.
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Photo Credits: Scott Goulet and Dan Purnell
This feature was originally published in Sneaker Freaker's New Balance 997 book. For a look at the 997's history, read about its and our interview with designer, . For a look back at United Arrows' 997.5, read our interview with UA's director, , or delve into the minutiae of the 997 back catalogue with . We also broke bread with Kith's to chat about his love for the 997, and talked NB colabs with creative director, .