The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-01
MAY BAR LONG RUNS
Marathon Race Called Men
ace TO the Athlete.
LEADERS OF SPORT AROUSED
Shocking Results Attend RAINING OF
2o-miie Event on ThnnkSEivfng
Day ut YOnkers-TaIk Is Rife of
AboIishiEE It-JameS T.. sullivan,
A :. L. Chief, Condemns Races.

New York. Nov. 5l.-Amatcur athletes
throughout New York and vicinity are
stirred as perhaps never before by the
shocking results attending the running
Of the Marathon race ar Yonkers on
Thursday. when many % the contestants
collapsed. Athlete leaders suggested yes
terday that the event be abolished In this
country
The lax management and consequent
terrible results Of the Marathon race have
raised serious doubt in the minds Of
many men prominent I'm athletics Of the
sdvisabIi,y % attempting 70 hold an
other such event
This statement came from an Official %
the A. A. l.. who sew the race 10
Yonkers Thursday. in which T. C. Cum
bingham. Of the New York A, Q. almost
lost his lie. and dozen other athletes
dropped by the roadside. half conscious
from weakness. thirst. and heart exhaus-
ton
or the seven victims OF Thursdays race
whose condition caused the most alarm.
G G. Cunningham Of the New York
Athletic Club is stiu under the constant
care Of physicians ~ ST Joseph's Hos
pital. Y0nkers. IL was said there last
night that Cunningham had rallied and
would recover unless complications ensEe-
The subject Of Marathon races-as the
Smile running event is known-was dis
cussed yesterday En- an the prominent
athletic CLUBS. II was the consensus Of
opinion that the contest. under conditions
which prevail in this country. VIII con-
tluue 20 De- menace To- nealth. If not %
life. as long as Il IS sanctioned by athletic
organizations. \ few expressed the opiu-
ion that the Marathon could be continued
II safeguards We're scrupUloUsly observed.
What Sullivan says
James r Sullivan. president OF the
Amateur Athletic Union. which controls
amateur athletics in this country said:
Marathon races as conducted IL pres
ent prove nothing. and therefore are ua-
desirable. II not positively detrimental %
sport in this country The danger lies IN
the fact that they appeal 90 fedgluEs
whose courage IS ou- OF proportion 10
their strength Theoretically, the Mara
thon is test Of eu athletes bravery and
endurance The noble traditions attend
ing the event also appeal 70 athletes. It
would not be a menace perhaps if el-
trants enjoyed the benefits Of long train
Tag and We're at least Jwenty-one years OF
age officials ia charge OF a Marathon
may exercise every precaUtion IN their
power and yet fail short OF their purpose
20 eliminate peril from the contest
TO an athlete not equipped q Marathon
is nothing short OF brutality. To such
one fatal results may euSUe and certainly
his vitality viii receive such a shock that
recovery viii be long delayed I have
in mind a Marathon runner who has
received permanently physical injury II
the event is 90 be continued In American
sports 70 should be made mandatory thar
contestants be examined q week before
the race and Immediately preceding r. UV
competent physicians. and that none be
permitted 70 start unless The rigid ex-
animation be passed ] would favor cut
ting down the distance 10 ten or fifteen
miles. This would provide a sufficiently
severe test OF the courage and stamina
Of an athlete
No Man Wins Twice.
Inspection OF the records shows that
with the exception Of Mcafferty. a noted
Marathon runner. no man has won Two
Marathon races. This would seem % in
dicate that the permanent loss OF the
maximum Of vitality incident 10 winning
a single Marathon incapacitates an ath-
lete from successfully undertaking a sec
ond contest"
2. J. Conway. president Of the Irish
American Athletic Club. depIored The re
suits of Thursdays race
1T is Imperative that safeguards be-
provided O. prevent a repetition Of such
results" Mr. Conway said. The arh-
Ietes who collapsed Thursday were not
IN condition % enter the race. Crowley.
Of the Irish-Americans would not have
been permitted 70 start had we known his
condition. Our trainer dld not know De
was going TO start or We would have pre-
vented il Poor Crowley collapsed after
Leading for ten miles. I have learned
since that he had probably less than two
weeks training. A man should train for
st least three months before entering a
Marathon. and he should be al least
twenty years Of age II the events are
continued in this country ironcIad rules
should be adopted which viii insure pro-
lection for athletes
Barlow :. Weeks. OF the New York
Athletic Club. declared that Marathon
races can be held safely if proper pre-
cautions are taken 10 insure the fit con-
dftfO- Of the contestants