In 1931, Charles C. Flanagan, a grand-scale promoter in the P. T. Barnum vein, organizes a cross-country footrace from Los Angeles to New York, with a purse of $150,000 for the winner. Two thousand runners from around the world gather to participate in this grueling trek, which takes them through mountains, deserts, plains, and cities.

Amidst the intense competition, friendships and alliances are formed, tempered by the harsh realities of the race. Organized fisticuffs in Springfield and organized crime in Chicago provide lively entertainment, along with period views of those cities.

This is a story of different ambitions and dreams converging through a shared determination, inspiring readers to push on to the finishing line.