Worlds Apart Times Have Changed in the Marathon World, Observes AIMS Statistician David Martin
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Worlds apart Times have changed in the Marathon world, observes AIMS Statistician David Martin The now standard Marathon distance weeks during his American “tour” increase strength, or enhance recovery besides the white of an egg. Although of 42195m was adopted at the Fifth and had two more re-matches with from hard training. Cases are French brandy was in the possession IAAF Congress held in Geneva in Hayes. He defeated him both times, identified every year so it is known to of the party, it was deemed best to May 1921. In the five men’s Olympic although in the final rematch overall occur. Regardless of clandestine abstain from further stimulants so Marathons held up to that point the race victory went to a diminutive 21- usage, there is no doubt that today’s long as possible.” distance had varied around 40km or year-old French waiter named Henri rules prohibit such agents as part of 25 miles (40.234km). No explanation St. Yves (2:40:50.6). the playing field. It was quite Drinking raw egg whites seems was offered for the new standardized different in Pietri’s day when drug difficult to imagine under any length but it was the metric As evidenced by Pietri’s schedule, usage was not only tolerated, it was conditions let alone in the final stages equivalent of the distance run in the trainers in his time did not essentially encouraged. of a marathon. Furthermore, Lucas’s 1908 Olympic Marathon in London, understand the physiological basis for understanding of the effects of 26 miles and 385 yards. recovery from competition, or the In the 1904 St. Louis Olympic alcohol was in error. Alcohol is a true significance of training. Athlete marathon Tom Hicks was awarded central nervous system depressant, That race seized the public management was simply a dash for the gold medal despite “assistance” not a stimulant. In sufficient quantity imagination in a way no other had. cash with inadequate regard for the received. In his report on the race it is also a diuretic. What Hicks Dorando Pietri had surged boldly into long-term health of the athlete. In Charles Lucas testifies that “From the needed was plenty of water, or better the lead in the closing stages but 2008 Olympic champions, their 10-mile mark to the finish, the winner, yet, electrolyte/energy drink – one collapsed – repeatedly - on the agents and race promoters continue Hicks, was under the personal care of litre per hour – but not strychnine, stadium track. Five times he was to earn cash in “open” marathon Hugh C. McGrath, of Charlesbank egg whites and brandy. Strychnine helped to his feet as the American races but the pace is much more Gymnasium, Boston, Mass. and the has been used for centuries as a rat Johnny Hayes entered the stadium carefully modulated. Samuel Wanjiru author. Hicks was far from being the poison and is a central nervous and rapidly closed in. The excitement may perhaps run two marathons in best man in the race, for there were system stimulant. In small doses it brought tens of thousands of the year following his Olympic three men who should have defeated increases spinal cord reflex spectators to their feet to see Pietri victory, not one every two weeks. him…but they lacked proper care on excitability, causing a coordinated but cross the line first. He was declared the road…The Marathon Race, from exaggerated skeletal muscle response. the winner but later disqualified for In today’s long distance running a medical standpoint, demonstrates The dose must be monitored carefully receiving assistance and the gold world there is a continual struggle to that drugs are of much benefit to because if it is excessive all medal was awarded to Hayes. The detect use of performance-enhancing athletes along the road.” Lucas coordination is lost and spinal marathon finish remained the substances. These may increase red further reports that at 19 miles he was convulsions can occur. enduring memory of those Games blood cell count – allowing delivery “forced to administer 1/60th grain of and immediately stimulated demands of more oxygen to the muscles, or sulfate of strychnine, by the mouth, The 1908 London Olympic marathon for a re-match. did well in providing food and drink along the way. The Official report A hundred years after that dramatic Comparing the London 1908 and recorded that “The Oxo Company race first brought the event to Beijing 2008 Olympic Marathons have been appointed official caterers, widespread public attention it is and will supply the following free of interesting to note some aspects of how LONDON 1908 BEIJING 2008 charge to Competitors: Oxo athletes’ Olympic marathoning has changed: Date of the race: 24 July 1908 24 August 2008 flask containing Oxo for immediate London 1908 versus Beijing 2008. # Starters, finishers, DNF : 55, 28, 27 98, 76, 22 use, Oxo hot and cold, Oxo and First (name, nation, age): Johnny Hayes, USA, 24 Samuel Wanjiru, KEN, 21 soda, Rice Pudding, Raisins, Bananas, The biggest difference lies in the Second (name, nation, age): Charles Hefferon, RSA 32 Jaoaud Gharib, MAR, 36 Soda and Milk.” Athletes in today’s physiological condition of the Third (name, nation, age): Joseph Forshaw, USA, 29 Tsegay Kebede, ETH, 21 competitive world are more athletes. Although exact Winning time: 2:55:19 2:06:32 accustomed to ingesting liquid rather height/weight data are not available than solid fuel. for the 1908 marathoners, articles about them suggest that they were The details of chemical metabolism of similar to the general (non-athletic) food were not fully elucidated until population. These early athletes were the 1930s, and it was well into the not the super-slim diminutive people 1970s before the first drinks were that toe today’s starting lines. Today’s manufactured which replenished runners train for a living whereas runners’ fluid losses and also those of yesteryear fitted training in provided easily assimilated energy. after work. Height and weight data Vitamins, electrolytes, and other for the 2008 Olympic men marathon ingredients were added, mimicking medalists are: Samuel Wanjiru 1.64m the ingredients found in sweat. (5 feet, 4 inches) and 52 kg (112 This has in no small measure pounds); Jaouad Gharib (1.76m/66 contributed to the ability to sustain a kg); and Tsegaye Kebede fast race pace as Samuel Wanjiru’s (1.58m/50kg). The present men’s new Olympic record in the 2008 marathon world record holder, Haile DORANDO PIETRI, LONDON 1908 Olympic marathon of 2:06:32 was 49 Gebrselassie, is of similar height minutes (28%) faster than the time (1.64m/53kg). In physical size they SAMUEL WANJIRU, BEIJING 2008 run by Pietri 100 years earlier. are small men. Times have changed in other ways The 1908 Olympic marathon as well. The women’s Olympic presaged a bout of professional Marathon winner in Beijing, marathon racing on tracks with Constantina Dita-Tomescu, ran a money bet on lap times. Both meet time (2:26:44) which would have promoters and athlete agents, as well won the (exclusively) men’s event as athletes themselves, stood to make up to the 1952 Olympic Games tidy profits by filling indoor arenas to (won by Emil Zatopek in 2:23:04). capacity. In such smoke-filled and The Women’s Marathon has been dusty confines a marathon race included in only the last seven required around 250 laps. The Pietri- Olympiads. Hayes rematch arranged in November 1908 in Madison Square The opinions expressed in this Garden, New York City was the most article are those of the author and anticipated of these. Pietri won do not neccessarily represent the 2:44:20.4 to 2:45:05.2. Pietri went on views of AIMS or IAAF to run a marathon every couple of Distance Running Month – Month 2008 1.