The Washington herald., 1917-01-19
COLSTON IS BEATEN
BY DANNY 0'LEARY
Local Speed Demon Loses Close Race
to Veteran Walker.

When II comes to stepping of that one
mile hike at the old heel and toe game,
against the cream of local roller skating
talent all hats must be "doffed" to the
veteran son of Erin. Dan OLeary, as he
eliminated the last of the local speed de-
mons last night at the Central Coliseum
skating rink. when he defeated Walker
Coiston, the well-known roller artist, in
the fast time of minutes and % seconds.
OLeary Travelled one mile on foot while
Colston was moving on the little wheels
for distance of two and one-half miles.
Colston appeared to be away out of
shape. and only through the hrst mile of
his journey did he show anything like
his old time form. During these early
minutes the followers of these events
were almost sure that the former speed
demon would take the veterans measure,
but Colston weakened in the last mile,
when O'Leary started extending himself.
The relay of girl skaters who had been
booked to meet O'Deary were side track
ed to allow Colston to compete with the
veteran, and will appear on Saturday
night. "Wonny" Cohen, a one-legged
skater, will travel one and one-hslf miles
while OLeary is travelling the distance
OF one mile in the event tonight
The work of O'Leary during the past
week has proven that he is one Of the
greatest walkers ever known to the ath-
letic game
oLeary was born June q, 1872 in
County Cork. Ireland, and has been
doing distance walking since 1857. So
far he just managed to cover 1os, 4s2
miles, but he shows no signs Of wear,
and has a standing challenge to walk
any man alive. regardless of age, youth
or beauty Cthese G. R., are Mr..
O'Leary's own words) 500 miles for 500
He has walked hot iota
six different times, competing In Eng
land, Ireland. France, Australia. Canada
and the United States. 1t was in London
that his best record was made, 522 miles
In IA hours.
Another distinction claimed by the iron
footed Irishman is that he was the first
man TO use rubber heels. He got some
rubber and made a crude pair In Lon
don in 1877, when he found that his con-
slant walking made his heels very sore.
Street cars and automobiles are blamed
by o'Leary for the present generation
of fabby office men. He says a man
ought to walk to the office and back
every day, and the farther the office Is
from home the better
Twenty miles a day Is Just about right,
after a taste for the exercise has been
worked up. and your feet won't get sore
If you bsthe them every night, and then
sandpaper them every morning, to re-
move the callous spots. and see that the
toenails are short enough.
AT this point the interviewer must have
found the strain on his politeness too
great, and looked his surprise for
O'Leary said: Il know you think I'm
crazy. but the plan is practical. learned
il from the namesake OF mine who was
also a great walker"
Another illusion that O'Leary punctured
is the idea that In walking for exercise
one must take what Is described by nov
elists as a Tong swinging stride
That is all bunk, according to the vet
eran. All there is to be done is to cult
vate the stride that will get you there
with the least effort. And when one has
walked for twenty-four hours on end, to
the distance OF 13 miles. as OLeary has
done, one ought to know.