During the 1970s, Americans in general began to be more health conscious. Preventative medicine (taking positive steps to improve health before disease strikes) became a popular approach to health care. One of the key aspects of preventative medicine involves physical activity. For adults, jogging—running at a moderate, sustainable pace—became a preferred method of exercise.

Before the 1970s, physical activity was viewed as a childhood pastime. A school kid or a teenager might partake in school-yard games, or play Little League (see entry under 1930s— Sports and Games in volume 2), or run on the high-school track team. Upon entering adulthood, people were expected to put away—or throw away—their sneakers, footballs, and baseball (see entry under 1900s—Sports and Games in volume 1) gloves and adopt a more inactive lifestyle. In the 1970s, with an increased awareness of health-related issues, particularly among baby boomers (see entry under...