Ultrarunner Zach Fiske will undertake a big task next month — completing the 2,400-mile Route 66 Centennial Bunion Derby Commemorative Run that begins in Chicago.
The event has been designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project as honoring the history, culture and enduring legacy of the “Main Street of America” during the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026.
Going from Chicago to Los Angeles, the run will retrace the spirit of the 1928 Bunion Derby — one of the most remarkable endurance races in American history.
Beginning on Aug. 4 at Navy Pier, the run is scheduled to conclude at Santa Monica Pier on Nov. 11, marking the centennial of Route 66’s official designation.
Fiske will average about a marathon per day and is inviting the public to participate along the route —whether running, walking, or cycling — for distances ranging from one mile to the full journey.
“Most modern ultramarathon runners, me included, tend to think of the 1963 JFK 50 or the 1977 Western States 100 as the genesis of our sport, but in truth, its roots are much older and more diverse than this. The Route 66 Centennial Run is an opportunity to retrace the steps of Bunion Derby racers and honor their journey across prohibition-era America,” Fiske said.
“If my previous ultra-distance projects have taught me anything, it’s that running is the most intimate way to travel a landscape. I am drawn to the intensity and vulnerability that go hand-in-hand with self-supported long-distance running; when the effort of movement strips you raw, every pebble underfoot registers vividly in your brain, and every human interaction becomes a core memory.
“It’s not a runner’s high; rather, it’s the purity of experience that comes from leaving part of yourself out on the trail. I can only imagine what the original Bunion Derby racers felt running these roads 100 years ago; it was such a completely different world. I can’t think of a better way to learn and experience the cultural main street of America, and I am excited to share the adventure with everyone who joins the run.”
The project pays tribute to the 199 runners of the original Bunion Derby, who trudge along largely unpaved roads from Los Angeles to Chicago and onward to New York, often covering 30 to 50 miles per day under extreme conditions.
“This project captures the spirit of Route 66 in a powerful and deeply human way,” said Bill Thomas, chair of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and commissioner for the Route 66 Centennial Commission. “By retracing the footsteps of the 1928 Bunion Derby runners, it not only honors an extraordinary chapter in American history but also invites people today to connect with Route 66 and one another in a meaningful, memorable way. It’s exactly the kind of initiative the Centennial is meant to inspire.”
Beyond commemorating history, the Route 66 Centennial Run aims to foster community and provide a unique perspective on the American landscape. The project also seeks to highlight the broader and often overlooked origins of ultramarathon running, bringing renewed attention to the diverse athletes of the 1928 race, many of whom competed despite significant social and physical challenges.
The public can follow the journey in real time and join for any portion of the run by visiting the project’s live tracking page. For more information, go here.
(Image of Zach Fiske via ZachFiske.com)