Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-08

the most successful nelu ana track
teams representing clubs depend large
ly upon former college men for their
real strength
Johnny Hayes has written many ar
ticles on how to excel in the sport
pointing out especially that the most
important quality in a runner is logged
persistence in training. Many of the
greatest runners the world has ever
known first took up the sport for exer-
else alone, and it was on these pleasure
runs that they discovered thai they
could attain a speSd great enough to
enter races. In nearly every city there
are at present clubs that were organ
lied to encourage Marathon running.
Thousands of men and boys who before
last year never donned a running shoe
are now undergoing especial courses in
developing wind and limb in the hope
of not only improving their health but
becoming good athletes.
The usual mode of training is to Jog
a couple of miles three times a week
on q good road until the athlete or
his trainer feels that he is sufficiently
developed to take longer distances,
when he commences to go ten or ff-
teen miles without stopping. So numer-
Gus are the races at present that thers
is little need of a runner extending
himself to the limit Few of the best
Marathon stars ever go the full dis
tance except in the races, althougMl
they usually make it point to run
twenty-five miles at least two or three
times before getting into actual COM
petition.
In the -lden days, when a long dis
tance runner started his training he
usually denied himself every luxury
in order to work off surplus fiesh and,
as he thought, get in the very best con-
QFaA aI1 - l..
by the modern school of training, and
the almost universal rule at present is
to allow a man almost anything in
the way of eating that does not disa-
gree with him. 1t Is the opinion
of most of the foremost trainers that
man in training should abstain en-
tirely from alcoholic liquors and to-
bacco.
Perhaps the oldest of the annual
Variations in this country is the one
that has been conducted for the past
eleven years under the auspices of the
Boston Athletic association. 1t is con-
ceded the title of American Marathon
and is viewed each year by thousands
who line the course from beginning to
end. The craze has also extended to
the navy. where several races have
been run around the decks of Uncle
Sans men-of-War.
Since the London meet several of the
competitors in that race have met in
match contests, and The crowds that
have attended these events show beyond
doubt that interest in the sport Is in
no manner restricted to those who are
able to actually participate. OF these
post Marathons the one that attract
ed the widest interest was the $4,000
Derby which was held in the polo
grounds, New York, last month, which
attracted about 10000 spectators. In
this the first prize went to Henri ST.
Yves, Frenchman, who was supposed
to be completely outclassed by the for
midable field that included such men
as Hayes of America, Dorando the
Italian and Longboat the Indian. From
the outset st. Yves set a terrific pace
and literally ran his opponents off their
feet. winning by a liberal margin.
From a financial point of view this
race was one of the most successful
field and track affairs ever held in this
country.
One of the peculiar features of the
Marathon running is that the cleverest
men in the sport do not seem to suffer
from overparticipation, tendency that
must be closely guarded against IN
other athletic activities. Dorando has
been in this country since early last
fall, and in that time he has on differ
ent occasions competed against the
best available talent in cities in all Sec
tions. Despite the strain he has given
little indication of going "stale," but
on the other hand seems to improve in
each successive performance. HAYES,
too, has given many exhibitions and
has run several match races with first
class men, including Longboat the In
dian, who was one of the most promi-
nent participants in the stadium tour
ney.
While Hayes has accumulated consid-
cradle money as the result of his VIC
tory in London, it is said on good au-
thority that Dorando has made more
than $4,000 since he reached these
shores several months ago-quite a
harvest for a former pastrv baker in
a small town in the northern part of
Italy.
T--sre is diversity of opinion among
medical authorities as to the probable
effect of running Marathon races. The
unanimity of opinion is that the sport
among undeveloped schoolboys or other
youngsters should be controlled so as
not to allow the unframed to run in
such way as to make it too strenu-
Gus and result In permanent injury.
For centuries walking and running In
the open air have been considered
healthful, but when the distance has
become too long and the strain too
severe 1t has proved dangerous, as has
been shown by heart failure and even
death among tho runners. Among
trainers and even physicians who have
had opportunities to observe the CON
dition Of young boys the feeling is that
long races of distance exceeding a
mile should be avoided.
But for the thoroughly conditioned
athlete Marathons are not considered
harmful, and the present popularity of
the sport not only promises to become
permanent but should result in the de-a.
velopment of long distance runners who
will be able to outclass the runners of
other countries. Among trainers and
other close followers of amateur and
even professional running there is
feeling that the Marathon has come to
stay.
Copyright. 1909, by Frederic J. Hasxn)