Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-12
ARRANGE LONG
DISTANCE RUN
ATHLETES TO JOG TO VENICE
AUGUST 20
EVENT MARKS EPOCH IN SPORTS
OF THE WEST
Los Angeles Athletic Club Announces
Endurance Contest Similar to
Marathon Race and A. A.
U. Has Sanctioned 1t
BY CHESTER LAWRENCE

With the announcement, made yes
terday by the officials of the Los An
geles Athletic club that they would
sanction long distance run from the
club to the annex at Venice, Los An
geles now is able to take her place
among the leading sport cities OF. the
country. Long distance running has
been the only lacking feature of the
western athletic world, and it is fitting
that progressive Los Angeles should
be the first city of the west to awake
to the athletic advantages to be gained
from this sport.
The race will be held on the morning
of Lugust 20. The start will be made
from the entrance OF thu Los Angeles
Athletic club and the finish will be at
the annex of the club at Venice. AL
Though the race was only announced
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, before
noon there were six entries for the
event, which shows no weagerly the
athletes have awaited the announce
ment. Those who entered the event
were Capt. ISaacs of the four-oar crew
of the club; De Witt @. Van Court
boxing instructor of the club; George
Retzer, sam Coulter, amateur light
weight boxer of Southern California;
Sam Coulter, amateur middleWeight
boxer of Southern California, and 9.
Lawrence. Many other members Sig
nified their intention to enter the run
and will do SO formally within the
next few days.
The run will be one of endurance
an dalso will be an annual or semi
annual event, as the club officials later
will decide. 1t will be to Los Angeles
what the Marathon run Is to Boston.
Although the Marathon race is over
route of twenty-five miles, winch is
about eight miles longer than the dis
lance from Los Angeles to Venice, 1t
was the opinion of the officials of the
club that the distance will lbe enough
for a starter, and if the boys wish to
increase the distance later on they can
do SO. Eighteen miles, however, would
seem a long enough distance for the
welfare of the participants and would
not have the disastrous results as
run of longer distances invariably have
in the east.
1t is planned now to start the race
at 8 O'Clock in the morning. The course
will lbe from the entrance of the club
on Spring street to Sixth, thence up
Sixth stree to Figueroa, up Figueroa
to Washington, and down Washington
to Venice. Officials of the A. A. U:
already have sanctioned the event and
Leslie Henry has signified his willing
ness to act as one of the officials. 1t
is expected that Al Treloar will have
charge of the runners and also will act
as one of the officials of the course.
Among other officials will be Frank
Garbutt, vice president of the club,
Charlie Eyton, secretary, and w. F.
Henderson, assistant secretary. Sew
eral of the members of the club will
make the trip in an automobile and,
while they will not be allowed to offer
the least assistance to any of the COM
petitors, they will see that they are
cared for in case the strain of the run
is to much for them. Any participant
who tries to shorten the distance by
any short cuts will be disqualified. A
member will be disqualified If he al
lows himself to be paced any of the dis
lance by a bicycle or any other We
| hicle. Flags will be placed at cross
roads to direct the runners.
The whole affair will be the browning
event in the sporting history of South
ern California and no doubt will be wit
messed by thousands of people all along
the course.