Evening star., 1933-06-09
MARATHON ROUTE
STROLL FOR TEXAN
Hitch-Hi Law Will Hit
Vickrey in Some States.
Dreyer a Gamester.
BY r. ID. THOMAS.

HE marathon distance OF 26
miles 3S5 yards seems a
formidable jaunt to your
average citizen, but to at
least one of the entrants in The
Stars second annual National
A. A. U. marathon, on tap next
week, it sizes up as stroll around
the block.
Coming a large part of the way by
foot, J. r. Vickrey is en- route IRON
Tuscola. Tex, to compete in the big
race here. According to Dick Ham OF
the A. A. A., who measured the course
for The stars contest, Vickrey has
q matter of approximately 1881 miles
To cover If he takes the logical route
through Memphis. Tuscola is near
Houston.
ssI'LL see you on June IT," read a
i note from Vickrey. dropped in the
mail as he started the long trek
Rut complete confidence in the Tex
ans enterprise is not shared by. mem,
bers of the Washington Track ana
Field Club distance running squad,
who have had considerable experience
hitch-hiking to national races.
"That bird" as one said today, Is
In for a lot of hardship. He'll nave
to pass through several States where
hitch-hiking is against the law and TO
pick up rides will be plenty tough: "a
Vickrey allowed himself about II
days for the journey, the race pelng
schduled week from tomorrow; Inus
fhon I'M miles
a day, which would be simple enough
but for Notwithstanding laws.
TT the Texan does make the grade, ne
i should be primed for the race. pro-
vided. as another Washington Track
and. Field Club man put it, he has
the wherewithal to eat regular ana
doesn't blister his feet"
Which is remindful OF Willie Dreyer
OF harrington, ILL.,, who made happy
eo-lucky trip to the contest here last
AUGUST. The little Dutchman showed
up at The Evening Star clinic with a
toe so severely blistered one WINGED
merely to view it.
It was the first experience for Dr.
John F. Preston with marathon run
ner. ,
aWell. WELL" sympathized the medi-
co, sit certainly is shame TO come
so far for the race and not be able
to take part in it."
WHAT" shrilled Willie, "me not
run? Go1ly, Doc. you amt gonna bar
me on account of that?"
DR. PRESTON took another look at
- the toe. 1t was completely en-
cased in bulging blister.
ct don't see how you can run on
that, old son." he discouraged.
"But," determined Willie. II have
run marathons with a foot twice as
bad as that. Just fix it up for me,
Doc, and I'll be okay." The physician
did his stuff and over the soul as well
as foot-searing Mount Vernon high
way and streets of Washington, shim-
mering with oven temperature, Wee
Willie Dreyer pressed that almost un-
recognizable toe thousands OF times.
And finished seventh!
Dreyer, along with half dozen or
more runners from Chicago and vi
cinity, is entered in the coming gal
lop, and Willie once more will thumb
his way. He got break last year
which Is said to have been unique in
the annals of marathon hiking
For a stretch he rode the rods OF a
train. Discovery put an end to this,
hut for q better means of travelling
When the train crew learned Willie
was no ordinary tramp. but an athlete
game enough to chance almost any
danger IN the name of sport, their
own sporting spirit came to the fore
and they not only released him but
fixed things so he could ride in COM
fort.