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When Henry Laurens returned to Charleston in 1747, his future was uncertain—war raged abroad, privateers stalked the coast, and opportunity was anything but guaranteed. Yet from these unstable beginnings, Laurens rose to become one of the wealthiest men in the colonies and a leader of the American Revolution.
His fortune was built through slavery, an institution he once embraced and later came to condemn.
Latest News
May 24, 2025
my son Brian won the 13-hour Sri Chinomy 13-hour race at Madison Park in Seattle on May 24, 2025, one day before my 70th birthday
Top Performances:
13-Hour Race
Men:
- Brian Kastner (40): 64.68 miles
- Jae-Byung Jung (54): 63.14 miles
- Alex Swenson (61): 60.06 miles
Brian Kastner finished Fourth in the Inaugural 140 mile Route 66 Ultra-Marathon
Brian covered the 140 mile course in thirty plus hours of almost continuous running. His brother Andrew paced him through fifty miles of the course. It was a thrill of a life time to be part of this amazing race.
Photo caption: From left to right, Brian Kastner, Marshall Ulrich, Andrew Kastner, and Heather Ulrich after the finish
PRE-Race Talk Route 66 Ultra Run 2022
It was a real thrill to have the chance to talk about my bunion derby books at the pre-race meeting, and to be introduced by the legendary ultra runner and race co-founder Marshall Ulrich. The three day ultra starts tomorrow morning in Seligman and finishes at Topock on the Arizona side of the Colorado. I’ll post updates throughout the race.
Route 66 Ultra Run 2022
Big news!! Legendary ultramarathoner Marshall Ulrich and his wife Heather just announced a three day ultramarathon on historic Route 66 in Arizona this November. The field is limited to 100 entries and it will fill up fast
My son Brian will run the race, and his brother Andrew and I will serve as his support. The runners will be following in the footsteps of the bunioneers who crossed Route 66 on the first ever trans-America marathon in 1928. I'll be there to give some history on the 1928 race and sign copies of my bunion derby books. I hope to see you on Route 66 this November!
About the Author
Charles B. Kastner is a Seattle-based writer who has spent the last twenty years learning and writing about the bunion derbies. In 2007, the University of New Mexico Press published his history of the 1928 race; in 2014, Syracuse University Press published his history of the 1929 race. He holds advanced degrees in business administration, history, and environmental biology. Kastner has run twenty-five marathons and one ultramarathon over a racing career that began when he joined his high school cross country team in 1970. In recent years, he has taken up the sport of boxing, a throwback to the days of the bunioneers, when many were both accomplished long-distance runners and prize fighters.
Read MoreBook Signings
& Events
Charles has wrapped up his book events for Race Across America.
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