Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-15
The BuniOn Derbies

lAAG 1aGNa
The Bunion Derbies
PYLE HAD great ideas but they
centered on the financial angle OF
the sport. Runners came from all
corners Of the world 70 take part
il the big race. The winner would
have a small fortune and those
finishing in the money would have
a grub stake for many years ms
sounded great and 1t "a heard al
over the world. How well ] recall
for I was the first to enter the
East-West trip. Yes = and now
lucky / was that my friends per-
suadcd me TO withdraw. Many
wished they had done the same, LOT
the torture Of the lengthy launt
was hard to bear
1T Is BELIEVED that coast-to-
coast runs are a thing OF the past
for athletes have found that these
long grinds take much from the
BODY which even money cannot re-
place. The athletes r now inter-
ested In shorter distances. It IS
nossible that the coming Olympic
games might have something TO do
with this interest as no doubt there
will be more activity shown IN
rack during the coming summers.
The marathon will interest those
who have Olympic hopes. The dis
lance covered In this event Is 20
miles, 385 yards. The Olympic rec
ord in this event was set BY a
Frenchman. El Ouafi. in 1923. The
time was two hours. 80 minutes ana
81 seconds. The record in this long
distance jaunt has changed little
since It's inception. In 1895. >.
Loues or Greece stepped the mara
thon in two hours. SIS minutes and
20 seconds.
Nurmi's Records
PAAVO NURMI, famous Finn
who very nearly got in Dutch"
when on an exhibition tour some
time ago In the States. has taken
OLYMPIC honors in the 10000 meter
event twice for his country. This
distance is nearly six and a quarter
miles. In 1920 Nurmi covered this
distance in 81 minutes. As As sec
onds. In the following Olympic
games, Nurmi's fellow countryman,
Willie Ritnla. retained the honors.
while iii the last games, Finland
was still supreme in this event when
Nurmi stepped it in the much
faster time Of 30 minutes Is and
As seconds.
MANY AMERICAN athletes are
turning their eyes tCeard the dis
lance events In the coming Olym-
pics. AT present, Ray Conger APP
pears very promising, but much can
happen on the ~cinderpaths and
boards in two years Conger al
present Is turning back the dis
lance runners Of Europe and Amer
tea. The outstanding feature Of his
work this season was his comeback
IN defeating Or. Paul Martin. Con-
ger A Y he will confine his efforts
in the coming Olympics to the
shorter distances, such as the 800
and 1000 meter events.
DR.. OTTO PELTZER OF Ger
many was a colorful runner and he
obtained results. He is credited
with holding - worlds record in
the following dic2nces. 500, 800,
1000. and $500 meters. His out
standing record is his time OF two
minutes. 25.S seconds In the 1000
meter race.
Track Markers
The COURSE used for cross
country races must be properly
marked and surveyed. IN most
cases the start and finish is the
athletic grounds so the spectators
may see both the start and finish.
II Is customary to place red flags
10 the left and white ones to the
right over the course The rules
state these flags must be visible
for al least Us yards.
EXPERIENCE is a great teacher
on the track. Runners should study
the good and bad points OF other
performers in order "a impiNve
themselves. A new trackman should
always seek advice from the coach
and keep his instructions In mind.
Next to natural ability. experience
is the greatest help 70 q trackman.