Evening star., 1932-06-06
HEN|GAN'S SMILES
MASK HIS TRIALS.
Veteran Near Realization OF
Fondest Dream in B0s-
ton Classic.
BY GENE MACK.

That's the Henlgan OF the run
ming togS. The other side of this
young man, who has been selected
to represent Uncle Sam in the
Olympic marathon at Los Angeles,
is told in his diary scrapbook,
which he has worked on religious
ly since his early days as a runner.
Here he jots down all the happenings
of a successful foot racer, and they are
not always filled with sunshine Indeed,
the trials and tribulations are many.
1t is an old story that Henigan has
been too good fellow with his running
services. Time and again he has gone
to the rescue of athletic managers at
field days and picnics just so they could
have a headliner to put their races
"over." Jimmy couldn't say no, although
there we're times when he competed
against his better judgment.
In glancing over Jimmy's diary one
cannot help wondering after reading
about his long list of victories and fine
showings If he hasn't been the victim
of circumstances.
MANY OF his greatest national vic
IVI tories have been gained on days
of big foot ball matches, base ball
games and other sports, and naturally
his work on these days has been crowd
ed out of the limelight. On the other
hand, events like the B. A. A. mara
thon, which receive the greatest pub
licity. usually find Jimmy just shy of
top honors.
That's the way it goes, however. and
far be it from Jimmy to complain. He
is a grand sportsman, and his diary
proves it even if one does catch plain
tive note here and there.
Most of his many books are crammed
with details of races and meets. For
instance, he records every event on q
program with comment on each event
A veteran track follower would revel in
these "reminiscences.
1t is interesting to note in his boy
hood days that Mel Sheppard is my
hero and Guy Haskins a close second"
When he was only IA he was at the
finish of the marathon. but couldn't
see because of the crowd. "a kind gen.
tleman saw my desperate predicament
and held me on his shoulders as I
watched Tom Morrissey win"
HERE are few excerpts taken at
i random from the scrap books:
When I first got the idea Of
doing real running, winning the B. A.
A. marathon was my sole ambition,
but my ambition has never been real
lied, and probably never will"
An interesting item after the big
Pawtucket marathon in March. 1928:
Il was now headed for the center
of Pawtucket and although signs had
been posted had not noticed any, At
last spied one nailed to a telegraph
pole. My hopes were raised to the
highest point when the sign showed
a big 25. I cannot explain the feel
ing that came over me for it was the
realization I had at last run rs miles
without walking step"
A NOTE from his diary just before
n the B. A. A. marathon in 1925:
II have been told by friends that
I cannot run the marathon distance
and that 1t is a terrible race. But how
do they know? I don't think the run
ners punish themselves as much as peo-
pie imagine. They simply go along
on their natural ability and in their
matter of fact way it seems quite easy"
That a victory in the B. A. A.
marathon still was uppermost in his
heart Is seen in this paragraph writ
ten late In 1925: IF you win one B.
A. A. marthon it amouts to 200 vic
tories in other events, even though they
might be national championships.
Some fellows win IS races in their
career as against 200 by another in
the same period and yet through a
victory in the marathon and the pub
licity the former is considered vastly
superior runner to the latter"
IN 1915 he writes: This year tried
i a new game-real cross-country
running. I soon found out that this
is the best running of all. Hard road
racing is the worst as it kills your speed
and makes you a plodder. In all my
work I have enjoyed nothing better
than running cross-country over grassy
hills and fields"
OF the 1928 marathon: "At Framing
ham my feet became blistered, I had
sewed rubber sponges in my heels and
they wrinkled, causing me to suffer
considerably. was still going at Welles-
ley and I tried to stay OH my heels
es much as possible.
Il hit from Newton Lower Fells with
some courage and running in seventh
place. Turning into the boulevard, my
memory went back to other years. In
had to quit, and two years later took
the lead at this point.
To-day I was in fair condition ex-
cept for my feet. I was now in fifth
place and gaining, but my heels we're
bothering so much that I removed my
shoes and tried running in stocking
feet and then was advised to quit
We'll, five times I have tried and
have failed. I will always wonder If
! wouldn't have made a good showing
u had not used the sponges." (Jimmy
hnally won In 1931).
AT the Olympic tryout oss-country
II race at Van Cortlandt Park he
finished second to Earl johnson,
and writes:
II had made the United States Olym-
pic team for which I had yearned for
years.
On June IS at the Hoboken Fter we
were given our Olympic straw hats and
berths. I was told the boat was big
one 1t could not be too big for me. u
Just after the National A. A. U. 10
mile run in November, 1923, 1t Is in
teresting to read: MY medal brought
my prize total up to AZ for the year,
which is the most have ever won in
D single year.
II have now been interested in foot
racing for II years, and have competed
against . grand total OF almost 1900
athletes"
OF De Mar, one Of his greatest rivals,
1t Is pleasant to read:
DE Mar is one of the best natured
persons I have ever met. He sets q fine
example, as he keeps the best Of condi-
toning rules. do not know Of any one
In sport who has trained as conscien-
tiously as Clarence"
nAUL DE BRUYN, the German cham
pion, prevented the full realization
Of Jimmy Henigan's fondest dream
when the foreigner finished ahead OF
him in the Boston race this year. Jimmy
qualified for the Olympic team as the
first American across the line, but that
was victory only in sense.
1t may be asking too much Of the Wy