The 1928 transcontinental footrace held to promote U.S. Route 66 was nicknamed the Bunion Derby.
The race began in Los Angeles on March 4, 1928, and ran toward New York City. It was organized as a high-profile publicity event when Route 66 was still new and relatively unknown to many Americans. The race followed much of the highway’s corridor, linking road promotion with an endurance spectacle.
A total of 199 entrants started, and the winner was Andy Payne, an amateur runner from Oklahoma. Payne completed the course in 84 days and received a $25,000 prize. Only 55 runners finished the full event.
The Bunion Derby is sometimes confused with a conventional marathon because it was a running competition, but it was a cross-country footrace covering thousands of miles. Its promotional purpose also makes it an important early example of Route 66 marketing through popular culture and mass entertainment.