The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-26

The frst Of a series OF automobile
trips over the course OF the Inter-city
Marathon, to be held June Il, from
Laurel 10 the Munsey Building in Wash
inEton, was made by representatives OF
The Washington Times in Matheson
car, alternately driven by T. B. Spence
and James Orme.
This condition was made primarily to
determined the general condition of the
road and to mark off the five-mile points
where checking stations viii be estab-
lished. Points one mile apart where
judges along the course will be sta
toned will be determined later.
one can not 20 very far through the
suburbs OF Washington these days with
out knowing that there is TO be a Mara
thon. Though most OF the runners are
still training on regular tracks, The
Times scouts encountered several en-
trants.
Training Along Route.
One well-known athlete from a coll
lege Of this city, attired in his running
suit. was accompanied by a bicycle at
tendant who was acting as a PAGER.
He was a well-built fellow. and his
stride indicated that he was training
according to instructions from Tom
Burke.
According 10 Marathon traditions. he
grasped a pebble in each hand Though
he had covered five or six miles when
The Times party overlook him, he was
still going well and showed not the
least signs OF fatigue. And at that,
he was setting a pace considerably in
advance OF that he can hope 10 main
tain on the day Of the run.
Another runner was encountered near
Beltsville. wearing the insignia Of a
Washington athletic club. He was
going il alone and as long as The Times
men watched MIN he maintained a
steady, regular pace
Affords Good Test
A Marathon race is not cross-coun-
try and course should not be delib-
erauely chosen with view TO make
the going dinicult. No one in his right
mind wants 10 ran more than twenty
miles through uRderbrush, over newly
broken stones, or through heavy mud.
The course of the Times-News event
has been selected with a view OF af-
fording a good test. Though the going
is almost uniformly good there are roll
ing hills and the macadam Is relieved
BY stretches of dirt road There is not
= single steep hul along the course.
likely TO bruise his feet by stones
Fortunately the worst part OF the
going is for the first five miles of the
run. From the Laurel hotel, facing the
central square in the midway city, 10
the top OF Evansville hin, where the
frst ive-mile station viii be located,
the roads needs reconstruction
Along the Footpaths.
This makes tough running for an
automobile, but should not offer any
difficulty to a runner who does not need
a path more than a foot wide. Here
is where headwOrk enters into the game
and il will be the runner who uses
judgment over this early part OF the
run who viii have something over his
bone-head brethren at the finish
Runners who wish TO know where
they stand would DO well 10 fix firmly
in theiT minds these nVe-miie points.
AZ SO happens that each OF these sta
lions talt Al point easily recognizable
The Evansville hill station Will be To-
Gated Oh the summit OF a knoll. known
as Evansville hiIi. Here the first cross
roads that lntersect the main pike al
right angles atter leaving Laurel. are
located. and on the left OF the course
Is farm house and stable.
First Chance To Swerve.
About three miles from Laurel is the
first and one Of the few chances for the
runner 10 swerve from the course
Though a watcher will be stationed
there 10 set competitors straight. il is
well 10 remember that a dirt road that
branches OFF TO the left at a thirty
degree angle with the main course does
not lead 10 Washington. Keep firmly
To the right
About half a mile from Evansville Hin
al the foot OF 4 lone decline lies BELTS.
Vile. and sweet relief for there the
mec2dam ROAD begins again. This road
continues anbroken 10 Washington viii
the exceutioH OF a break OF about thre,
miles from Belwyn 10 College ark
BEL the going over the dirt road on this
stretch iS far better than al the start
on both SIDES OF the wagon tracks arr
paths, ana even 90 the middle the going
Is RoCu Tor running
The feH-miie station is located abou
esz=za a q 50 Ezz ga a~