The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-19
Nv JAY LEWIS.


their popularity yet. They undoubt-
eddy will. in time. il handled after
the professional manner IN which
they are now. but the endurance run,
from an amateur point of view, viii
always be worth reading about
1t Is not a spectacle. unless the
race is so arranged that the spec
tators can see the finish from afar
off. The best one can do Is to sit
in the grandstand where the men end
their long run and listen to the bull
letins, more or less accurate. mingled
with a lot of other jabber from a
gentlemanly barker, who Is proud of
his gift of the CAB. or blarney.
IT il not particularly interesting
sight even IL one can view the finish
ing stretch for a mile. There Is a
long lane walled by people. Into view
staggers a runner surrounded by a
little knot of attendants. Usually one
or two are on bicycles. Perhaps there
is an automobile or two dragging
along. The group around the rum
Nor constantly increases as the crowd
endsAvors to dodge the police and
join IN the triumphai journey of the
winner to the tape. He tolls along,
crosses thet line. and amid roar of
cheers. Is hurried to a Turkish bath
or to a hospital.
Meanwhile other staggering rum
ners. surrounded ~ similar groups,
have appeared and crept to the line.
Not Very Interesting.
II certainly is not particularly
interesting sport from the saectacu-
lar point of View. There is not. that
furious excitement about II that at
tends an automobile road race, al
. he. ed L. larf sl
race. Even this race has few real
thrills. except the speed OF the con-
testants.
An endurance race is not particu-
larly interesting. even when the best
of professional runners are matched
and the men race in a stadium with
bands playing, flags are flying. and a
bunch of attendants to care for the
contestants.
To call such races as there Mara
thons is reflection on one OF the
greatest events in history. II Is al
most an insult.
The modern amateur Marathons.
with the runners attended by men
who hand them food and drink and
other stimulants. az they require 1t.
are little better.
The First Marathon.
The soldier who made the heroic
run from the field OF Marathon into
Athens had no attendant on horse
back or In a chariot to aid him. He
probably would have been unknown
IL this had been, the case. He had.
moreover, fought the greater part of
the day and hadn't been trained espe-
cialiy to da that particular distance
at a certain pace.
Someone observes that he might
have been one OF the reserves.
There weren't any reserves on that
day of battle. Every man in the lit
| tie Greek host had TO get in and
fight from the start against Persian
multitude. And a Persian multitude
in those days was some multitude.
He merely laid aside his spear.
shield and other armor and at a word
fFeH Colonel Miftiades ne lit out for
Athens He was to break all records
in letting the fathers and the other
trembling folks at home know that
the Persians had done been licked
And he ran. Up Hill and down dale
he ran. The road was dusty the
sun wss hot. and he had been fight
ing hard for a starter. When he
came 10 little stream he might have
stopped long enough to rinse his
throat and guip mouthful or two,
but Ii was up to him to get to Athens
with the news and he certainly made
good time Just what it WAS the
writer does not recall this moment.
but 1t was good enough to stand for
nearly two thousand years. anyway.
Might Have Done Better.
Now perhaps that runner might
have done better had he an attend
ant or two to advise him ON his run.
Perhaps he drank too much water on
the way. for the story goes that just
when he had entered the gate of the
city he did a Dorando. gasped VIC
tory" and died. 1t was rather thrill
ing. that finish.
But the race has never been run
under those particular conditions since
and probably never Will be sEain.
1t Is said thar The officers Of the
Swedish Olympic games will give
near-imitation of IL. They are going
to cut out the attendants and make
each man run the race on his own
merits. But they will be men espe-
cially trained for the event They
will not be like the Greek soldier, a
well trained, all-around athlete, who
could fight or run, and did both ON
the day that he carried the news nf