Kevin and Dawn sample their way across Europe.

I picked up the pace for a while, and as I turned the final corner toward the Old Town Square, I saw the glorious sight of several dozen people lining the finish route waving flags from around the world and shouting Czech words of encouragement (at least I think they were encouragement).

It was a terrific feeling to be greeted by the crowds and cameras, and then run through a swath of flags and over the finish line in 3:57.

At the finish, I found water almost immediately and slumped down and drank two bottles. Dawn caught up with me. “How was the race?” she gushed.

“Oh, it was a piece of cake, no problem at all. Very well organized,” I lied, not wanting to crimp our vacation with the truth.

I told her about the water problems after we got back home.

On our way back to the hotel, I kept getting strange looks and smiles from many of the people on the streets. After a while Dawn also noticed, and we were horrified to realize that my shirt was dripping with blood. Yes, the lack of Vaseline on my nipples had caused them to chafe to the point that they were bleeding. We just had to laugh—until I stepped into the shower, which was one of the most excruciating moments of my life.

Dehydration had taken a toll on me, but I acted as though everything were fine. During the afternoon we did a little sightseeing before heading back to the hotel in the evening to collect our belongings. Later, having an hour to kill before leaving for the station, we went to the bar and drank some more beer.

SHOCKING A HUNGARIAN

The excitement continued that night on the overnight train to Budapest as I woke from a deep sleep to loud banging on our compartment door. I crawled out of bed and, wearing only my shorts, opened the door. Standing there was a Hungarian immigration officer, who immediately looked down and just stared at my body. It seemed like he spent a minute just staring at my chest. I handed him our passports, and he took a cursory look at them before returning his eyes for a last glance at my chest. Perhaps he is cross-eyed? I thought to myself.

“Did you see the way that guy looked at me?” I asked Dawn.

“Yeah, of course he looked. How many times do you think he sees a halfnaked Brit with large Band-Aids stuck on his nipples?” She broke into a serious laughing fit.

Thad completely forgotten about the Band-Aids I had put on my chest after the shower.

“Can you imagine what he thinks those things were doing on your nipples?” Dawn asked, still laughing.

Geez. Some guys never get a break.

Kevin proudly displaying his finisher’s medal after the race.

In Budapest the next day we continued our established routine: sightseeing in the morning and then drinking and partying in the afternoon and evening. Hungary was excellent in every way. The thermal baths we went to were the perfect way to recuperate from the race. After some excellent meals in Budapest, I was well on the way to recovering and feeling fine—even with all the walking we did while burdened with heavy backpacks.

We continued the trip with a train ride to Vienna, where we ate dinner, and then took an overnight train to Venice.

Venice was great, of course. From there we caught aflight to Switzerland, where we did our final two cities: Interlaken and Zurich. We were to catch the overnight train from Venice but were told, when we arrived at the station, that the operators were on strike, so we slept overnight at the airport before taking the early morning flight to Zurich. In the end, we arrived there quicker than the trains would have. This was our only real problem during the whole trip, and thankfully it was toward the end.

In any case, we finished the vacation and considered it a complete success. My goal of running the marathon while not interfering with our primary agenda of having fun worked out just fine. We tasted many fine European beers and ate at the best restaurants.

As for the Prague International Marathon, despite my problems, I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. Just bring some bottles of water with you— and remember your Vaseline.

— — Kevin Polin MY MOST UNFORGETTABLE MARATHON M 129

4 What I Learned From It

LANNING A TRIP overseas with so many cities involved, different modes

of transportation, and different languages was a challenge. To run a

jon in the middle of that was especially a challenge because our prime

– directive was to have fun. But it can be done. My wife and | had a fantastic trip, and | did not alter any of our major plans. You only live once, so make

the most of an overseas marathon. Ify ou are in decent shape, the marathon

] [ ome local hot spots, and have fun! It’s

_ surprising how when they sit down over a decent beer. And when in ae sample the local brews: they’re much better

than we’re used to in the States. est

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Ry tera 1 The Art of the

aw Ultramarathoner

Runners Have Been Doing Ultras for Centuries, and the Basics Never Change. A Classic Revived. Part 5 of 5

by Tom Osler

The first four installments of Tom Osler’s book appeared in our July/August, September/OctoCHAPTER 9 RACING FOR SEVERAL DAYS—PART 2

Tn the previous chapter we examined my own three-day trial at the Human Performance Laboratory in Muncie, Indiana. The three tables on pages 133134 provide a detailed breakdown and summation of exactly how the time was allocated during this run. In this chapter we will examine the schedules of two men who had vast experience at such events. First we will look at a pre-race schedule written by Edward Payson Weston, prior to an attempt to walk 500 miles in six days. This plan will be contrasted with observations made by a team of doctors who witnessed a similar trial by Weston. Finally, we will review the six day run by Henry “Blower” Brown of England in 1880, which established a new world’s record.

Weston’s Schedule

Two months before becoming the first person to walk 500 miles in six days, Weston tried the same feat unsuccessfully at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, known then as Barnum’s Roman Hippodrome. Before this attempt Weston had printed and circulated his pretrial schedule, a fascinating mix of athletic strategy and self-promotion. He announced a goal of 115 miles on the first day and another 400 miles over the remaining five days. This was to be achieved by starting out with twenty-five miles, resting for five minutes, then falling into a steady rhythm of ten miles walking and five minutes resting until 115 miles were done, which, if all goes according to plan, would be by 11:55

p.m., or just under twenty-four hours after beginning. The second day would add eighty-five miles to the total, the next three days eighty each, and on the sixth day Weston would cover seventy-five miles for his total of 515. The small pamphlet containing this schedule had an introduction which ended as follows:

You will observe that this calculation allows for an extra distance of fifteen miles, which can be dropped on the first day, as walking 100 miles within the first twenty-four hours will, under ordinary circumstances, insure success.

While I am unwilling in any way to prostitute the powers of endurance with which my Maker has endowed me, yet I assure you, on this occasion, I shall use my best efforts to more than meet your most sanguine expectations, and shall ever remain

Faithfully and gratefully yours, Edward Payson Weston

Weston was never one to “prostitute” his powers of endurance. He managed only 346 miles in this effort.

Table 1 shows a summary of Weston’s approach to the first day. The trial begins at midnight on Monday morning as was the custom. Weston then proposed to walk twenty-five miles without a rest at about five mph. While it’s not shown on this table, the actual schedule shows that the first mile of every walking segment is the slowest. Most often he walked the first mile in thirteen to fifteen minutes, but he would begin as slowly as twenty minutes per mile after rising from a night’s sleep. Most of the miles on the schedule are to be walked in twelve minutes. After the first twenty-five miles, the schedule is simplicity in itself. He simply walks ten miles, then rests for five minutes; walks ten miles, rests five minutes, etc. Notice that no lengthy meals are eaten! An observer of Weston once wrote:

During this walk, Mr. Weston took but few regular meals, a great part of his nourishment being taken while actually walking. In this way he took his beefessence, soft-boiled eggs, gruel, tea, coffee, and all other drinks.

Also note that no sleeping is planned for the first day.

In Table 2 we see Weston’s second day effort. Notice that he allows for plenty of sleep at the usual sleeping hours. Most rest periods continue to be only five minutes, but now longer periods are allowed for the usual three meals. It appears that Weston is trying to stay close to his daily habits. He walks eighty-five miles on the second day.

Table 3 shows that days three through six are identical except that he stops one hour early at the end of the last day.

E. P. WESTON’S PRETRIAL SCHEDULE Six Day Solo Walk—Madison Square Garden October 5-10, 1874 TABLE 1 THE FIRST DAY

Time of Day Comments 12:05 a.m. Start

12:05 to 5:00 a.m. Walk 25 miles 5:00 a.m. Rest 5 minutes 5:05 to 7:05 a.m. Walk 10 miles 7:05 a.m. Rest 5 minutes 7:10 to 9:11 a.m. Walk 10 miles 9:11 a.m. Rest 5 minutes 9:16 to 11:17 a.m. Walk 10 miles 11:17 a.m. Rest 5 minutes 11:22 a.m. to 1:24 p.m. Walk 10 miles 1:24 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 1:29 to 3:30 p.m. Walk 10 miles 3:30 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 3:35 to 5:36 p.m. Walk 10 miles 5:36 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 5:41 to 7:43 p.m. Walk 10 miles 7:43 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 7:48 to 9:49 p.m. Walk 10 miles 9:49 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 9:54 to 11:55 p.m. Walk 10 miles 11:55 p.m. Retire for sleep

TABLE 2 THE SECOND DAY

Time of Day Comments

11:55 p.m. to 5:15 a.m. Sleep 5 hours 20 minutes 5:15 to 6:21 a.m. Walk 5 miles

6:21 to 6:51 a.m. Breakfast (30 minutes) 6:51 to 9:52 a.m. Walk 15 miles

9:52 a.m. Rest 5 minutes

9:57 to 11:58 a.m. Walk 10 miles

11:58 a.m. to 12:18 p.m. Lunch (20 minutes) 12:18 to 3:21 p.m. Walk 15 miles

3:21 p.m. Rest 5 minutes

3:26 to 5:27 p.m. Walk 10 miles

5:27 to 5:47 p.m. Supper (20 minutes) (ntnued)

Tom Osler THE ART OF THE ULTRAMARATHONER ® 133

TABLE 2 THE SECOND DAY (CONTINUED) 22s ESOC ESS SEES

Time of Day Comments

5:47 to 7:48 p.m. Walk 10 miles 7:48 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 7:53 to 9:54 p.m. Walk 10 miles 9:54 p.m. Rest 5 minutes 9:59 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Walk 10 miles

12:00 a.m.

Retire for sleep.

TABLE 3 DAYS THREE THROUGH SIX

Time of Day Comments

12:00 to 5:55 a.m. Sleep 6 hours

5:55 to 7:03 a.m. Walk 5 miles

7:03 to 7:23 a.m. Breakfast (20 minutes) 7:23 to 10:26 a.m. Walk 15 miles 10:26 a.m. Rest 5 minutes 10:31 to 12:34 p.m. Walk 10 miles 12:34 to 12:54 p.m. Lunch (20 minutes) 12:54 to 2:57 p.m. Walk 10 miles

2:57 p.m. Rest 5 minutes

3:02 to 5:05 p.m. Walk 10 miles

5:05 p.m. Rest 5 minutes

5:10 to 7:16 p.m. Walk 10 miles

7:16 to 7:46 p.m. Supper (30 minutes) 7:46 to 9:49 p.m. Walk 10 miles

9:49 p.m. Rest 5 minutes

9:54 to 11:55 p.m. Walk 10 miles* 11:55 p.m. Retire for sleep.

*On the last day Weston stopped at 10:55, covering only 55 miles.

Over the six day period he allows twenty-nine hours and twenty minutes for sleeping, five hours fifty minutes for meals, and two hours twenty minutes for short rests. His actual traveling time is 105 hours twenty minutes and he averages 12:15 per mile pace.

An Eyewitness Account

We have seen Weston’s proposed schedule. This is Weston in “theory.” What of Weston in “reality”? Fortunately, an extensive eyewitness account of one of Weston’s early performances has been preserved. In 1870 Dr. Austin Flint,

Professor of Physiology at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, together with a team of assistants, studied Weston for a scientific project. Weston agreed to a fifteen day study. During the first five days he rested, but had his every action observed and recorded. All his food as well as his excrement was weighed and analyzed. During the next five days he gave a pedestrian exhibition during which he attempted to achieve two goals: 400 miles in the five days, and 112 miles on one of the five days. On the final five days, Weston was observed extensively as on the first five days.

Dr. Flint’s work was published in the New York Medical Journal of June, 1871. We will simply relate Dr. Flint’s observations of one of the days during which Weston walked for science.

The walk began on November 21, 1870 in the Empire Skating Rink in New York City. The track was made of boards covered with dirt and shavings and laid out in the form of a rectangle. It measured just over seven laps to the mile.

On the first day Weston managed eighty miles. He felt well and walked with great ease, even though he suffered a little nausea. This, he related, was common on the first day of such an effort. On the second day he managed only forty-eight miles, but he was resting for a big “push” for 112 miles on the third day. Dr. Flint writes:

At 4:05 p.m. he was undressed, and wrapped in a long red flannel gown and a blanket, carried to a vehicle, and driven about five blocks to a private house to sleep. He states that he did not sleep, but dozed and got no rest. About 9:30 p.m. he was brought back to the rink in the same way that he was taken out, ate supper, and began at 10:24 p.m. his first attempt to walk one hundred and twelve miles in twenty-four consecutive hours. He seemed cheerful and confident during the entire day.

The following is Dr. Flint’s detailed account of the third day:

12:00 to 6:06 A.M. 6h.and6m. walking 27-/ miles, with one stop of 4m. 30 sec. for rest, and 4 stops for urination, averaging 30Ya sec. each.

6:06 to 6:14.a.m. 8 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track.

6:14 to 1:31 p.m. 7h. and 17 m. walking 33 miles, with 4 stops for urination, averaging 31-‘/4 sec. each.

1:31 to 1:37 P.M. 6 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track.

1:37 to2:24p.m. 47 m. walking 3-%7 miles, with one stop of 34 sec. for urination.

2:24 to 2:31 p.m. 7 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track. 2:31 to 3:05 p.m. 34 m. walking 2-% miles.

Tom Osler THE ART OF THE ULTRAMARATHONER @ = 135

3:05 to 3:32 P.M. 3:32 to 4:46 P.M.

4:46 to 5:16 P.M. 5:16 to 5:46 p.m.

5:46 to 6:49 p.m. 6:49 to 9:11 p.m.

9:11 to 9:21 P.M. 9:21 to 10:52 p.m.

10:52 to 12:00 a.m.

Walking 92 miles Urination

Rest on the track Rest off the track

27 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track.

1h. 14 m. walking 5-% miles, including 2 stops for urination, averaging 27-‘/ sec. each.

30 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track.

30 m. walking 2 miles, with one stop of 58 sec. for urination.

1h. and 3 m. rest in his room (supper).

2h. and 22 m. walking 11 miles, with one stop of 30 sec. for urination.

10 minutes’ rest, sitting on the track.

1 hr. and 31 m. walking 7 miles, with one stop of 43 sec. for urination.

1 hand 8 m. rest, continued into November 24th.

20h. 8m. 43 sec.

7m. 47 sec. lh. 32m. 30sec. 2h. 11m.

23h. 58m. 120 sec. = 24 hours

Thus Weston only managed ninety-two miles on the third day and failed in his push for 112. On the next two days he walked only fifty-seven and forty and one-half miles for a total of 317.5 for the five days. As usual, Weston fell short

of his goals.

Upon the conclusion of the walk Dr. Flint observed:

Notwithstanding the immense muscular and nervous strain to which Mr. Weston had subjected himself for the past five days, culminating on the fourth day in complete prostration of the nervous system, he sat up, talked and joked with his friends until 1:40 a.m., November 26″, then went to bed and slept well until 10 a.m. He then got up, feeling splendid, wakening his attendants, who are almost exhausted by the five days’ labor and watching, and called for his breakfast, which he ate at 11:45, with excellent appetite. For the succeeding five days, he felt as well as ever. During these five days, he did absolutely nothing but eat, sleep, and amuse himself, attending to no business. He took no exercise, walking only about two miles a day, though he said he felt as if he could walk one hundred miles any day without difficulty.

Finally, we are told that on the day following the conclusion of the walk, Weston “smoked six cigars during the day.”

“Blower” Brown’s Record

Henry “Blower” Brown was born in Paltham, England and was thirty-seven years old in 1880 when he broke Edward Payson Weston’s year old record of 550 miles for a six day “go as you please” pedestrian match. Brown managed a brilliant 553 miles to become the “champion pedestrian of the world.”

Table 4 shows Brown’s total mileage as recorded at the end of each hour. It is measured in miles and remaining laps. The track apparently measured eight laps to the mile. The figures are truly impressive. In the first day he covered 125 miles and 225 by the end of the second!

In Table 5 we have a summary of each day’s activities. Notice that Brown’s average speed was faster on the sixth than the fifth day.

Table 6 gives the number of miles run in each hour. From these figures we can surmise that Brown did most of his sleeping at night, as did Weston.

Sir John Dugdale Astley who promoted these contests left us a vivid picture of Brown and his trainer John Smith. The following is from his autobiography Fifty Years of My Life—In the World of Sport at Home and Abroad, published in 1894.

I must say a word about that peculiar brick-maker, Blower Brown, and his backer, one of the quaintest of old peds, John Smith, whose soubriquet when in his prime was the “Regent Street Pet.”

Brownhadearly distinguished himself by the rapid manner he trundled his barrow of bricks to the kiln, and back again for another load, and, like all brick-makers (I have ever heard of), he was wonderfully fond of beer; therefore, when old Jack Smith wished to get an extra spurt out of his protégé, he used to yell at him on the track, and the same exhortation and promise was enumerated whenever his instinct told him encouragement was needed: “‘Well done, Blower! go it, Blower! you have got ’em beat, my beauty! Yes! Blower shall have a barrel of beer all to himself if he wins; go it, Blower!” One day Blower showed signs of shutting up, and as he was more an animal than an angel, Smith and I agreed that it would be a good thing to wake him up a bit by putting him in a hot bath—quite anew sensation for him—so we took him to my lodgings hard by, and I ordered two chops to be got ready for him, and then put him into a hip bath of real hot water, which livened him up considerably, fairly making him sing out. When he had got him nicely dried, the chops appeared, and whilst I was helping Blower into his running-suit I was horrified to observe old Smith busily employed gobbling up all the best parts of the chops, leaving only the bone, gristle, and fat, and when I expostulated with him on his greediness and cruelty to his man, he replied: “Bless yer, Colonel! Blower has never had the chance of eating the inside, he likes