MARATHON RUNNING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 6

MARATHON RUNNING

SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY

*y. There is keen.controversy in" Australia at present over the advisability of marathon runnifig.' The .controversy has been caused mainlyithrough tho re;fusal'of:''the Victorian Amateur Atliletic Association to sanction, a long disVanc^ftace which the Geelong Guild Athletic7 Club proposed holding next year ihVc'o'hneetion'with the Melbourne Ceritenaryv, .Many different opinions h"a,ve ;beejti;icxpresscd, but although the majority^ the States'in Australia are opposed-'toxinarathon running, the con'.ce.ilsus ?'b;f •"'opinion•■• amongst runners fsoems tp v*bo that marathon -miming is quite aliv right provided tho men tn'king partare"thoroughly 'sound,1 and have gone.in.-fQi' a!proper;.coursc of long and scientific training. One well-known member of the Victorian Olympic Council has expressed the opinion that dissatisfaction was not eaiiscd. by . the event, but by the incompetent men who. have' been allowed to compete in marathons. "We never had any trouble when we staged mara'tlions in Victoria in tho .pre-war days, 'i\ ho'saitl;^ The 'opinion has also bcdn-.-icxpressed th,at no, one under 25 years'"of age shouldbellowed to takc^part. . , ; .>!..>,"

This is'of parr'icl)il(uViiiterest at^lresent'in"<vie.w of the;:fact that the-'^eg lingtonf. Centre of-: .thc^N.Z.A.A.A,. .lias deeid6iV:tojihol<l.; a-Miutrathon rnee next year. tiyj-^easoii to think that tlVe^r-Jl'e^, willj lie.Vinjurious to anyorfe,. prjj.VjicleA,'^-thq^ccntro; takes proper steps t«%«!> tliat the runners are medically exaniiiieel, are thoroughly fit, and have undcrgoiie a serlbits course of training;'•-■■lt seems to-tivi: writer that the centre' Was quite right; in, deciding that' tnor:race should be held;.in the summer, because there is no-doubtxthat thet-regular training of^.-the. harriers; over distances not .exceeding: eight or ten miles is not the/proper 'training for a maTathon Tace.'lf"the race wore hold at the end, of the harrier season no prope.f,, opportunity,..would ,be afforded^the distance'.runne'rs; s to:...get .properly in'ip fjirnij 'wh:(ii'oa!Si!inHho' suftliner the. hairievk will-have time lq ( settle, dowii to the necessary ; training. ■" • . >