Evening star., 1932-08-22
The Marathon Race.

djlON racing Capable OL dIUuslAlB tiC-
mendous interest on the part Of the
spectators and even more tremendous
enthusiasm on the part of the partici-
pants, or the sport would not have
gained the foothold in popular esteem
that 1t holds today. But what 1t Is
remains q mystery. The spectators are
strung out along course 26 miles and
385 yards long and only few see the
finish; as for the others, they watch
several score runners doggedly trotting
or even walking past, with the spurt-
ing for final position reserved for the
last lap. There Is nothing approach
ing the thrill and the colorful dash
of shorter races, and the beauty OF a
well trained physical specimen in
action is marred by the heart-breaking
grind merely to keep going.
But the sport is popular, not only
in the United States, but abroad. They
say the youngsters in Boston. and to
less extent in nearby Baltimore,
would rather grow up to be Marathon
racers than street car conductors or
even ball players. New England's big
athletic event is the Founders Day
Marathon and the occasion is sometimes
regarded as the blue ribbon feature OF
the Olympic games.
Washingtons first opportunity to
witness an official title race of this
sort on Saturday brought out one Of
the largest crowds that ever witnessed
an athletic event in this city. II the
crowd lacked density, it must be re-
membered that the spectators had to
distribute themselves from Mount Ver-
non to Washington and over q large
part of the downtown section. There
was interest aplenty, and much enthu-
siasm for Clyde D. Martak Of Balti-
more, the new American champion, and
sympathy for the plucky German, Paul
de Bruyn, who come in third and, pre-
serving the best traditions of the sport,
went Immediately from the finish line
to a bed in a hospital in state Of
complete collapse.
Pheidippides ran the first Marathon
in 400 BIC, and while there is no rec
ord of the time in which he covered
the % miles from Marathon to Athens,
he won immortal fame by dropping
dead His exertions during the preced-
ing four days may have had something
to do with that, however, for modern
Marathon runners will recall that he
had already run from Athens to Sparta
and back again and fought in the bat
tie with the Persians besides. The
Marathon, as 1t is known today, had its
beginning in the revival Of the Olym-
pic games in Athens in 1896. A Greek
peasant won this race, and his country
men were so moved to enthusiasm that
women showered him with their jewels
and, even more remarkable, a restau-
rant owner offered him 365 free meals.
Readers of The Star may still recall
the memorable Marathon run from
Windsor Castle to the Olympic stadium
in London in 1908, when Dorando
Pietri, a young Italian, actually crauled
into the stadium and collapsed, received
first-aid and tottered around the arena
only to fall again. He revived q third
time, but again fell and was finally
carried across the finish line, only to
be disqualified on protest Of the Ameri-
can who ran second. But Dorando
was the hero and was signally honored
by Queen Alexandra, who gave him a
gold cup.
1t had been hoped that this years
Olympic winner, Juan Carlos zabala Of
Argentina, who set a new Olympic record
of hours 81 minutes and 36 seconds at
Los Angeles, would participate in the
race Saturday. But Senor Carlos, 1t is
understood, requires about four months
fully to recuperate from race and is
prabably still painting on the West
Coast. Even without his presence,
Washington's first race was highly sue
| cessful. The roster of entrants was
large, a great number or them were
nationally prominent, and, while the
winning time Of 2 hours So minutes and
seconds was relatively slow, the new
champion Is near neighbor from
Baltimore.
The race may serve to popularize the
sport here. Over in Baltimore they have
many grand Marathons and the Balti-
moreans get kick out Of them all. Fa-
miliarity with the ins and the outs OF
the sport may reveal what future there
| is in it for a Marathon runner. Judging
from Saturdays race, it must be just
one hard mile after another. But per
haps Marathon runners themselves feel
differently about it.
II must inevitably check the Tam
many enthusiasm in New York City
| when the genial Governor finds 1t nee