Young John Kelley’s Journal

The following is the journal entry made by John J. (Young John) Kelley, whose 1962 win at Yonkers was his seventh out of eight in a row—Ed.

“Noon: Yonkers National Marathon—Won in 2:27:39, over Alex Breckenridge (who finished) 2nd in 2:30:46. Ran hard with Alex over first 10 (miles), pulling away at 11+, then building up substantial lead only to experience deadening in last 5 miles, so that (my) time at 20 (miles), 1:48:58, indicating possible 2:20, proved only (the) slowness of the final 6 (miles). Took oranges and water dousings frequently after 22 miles. George (Terry) (was) 3rd in 2:32, Old John (A. Kelley) 4th, 2:37. Weather fair and mild (75 degrees, south-southeast breeze). Miles run to date this year, 1,467.”

Young John adds: “(Old) John’s performance certainly did—and does— stand out, notwithstanding every competitor’s regard for his seemingly ageless formidability. A curious thing about that regard for him was that, while we ‘young Turks’ never expected him to beat us, we could always come up a bit shocked by how much in the thick of it he kept proving himself. This Yonkers race was an excellent case in point—maybe the best such. | can still remember at the time thinking back to 1950 when he had won the National Championship at Yonkers at age 42!”

Together we went through 10 miles out near Hartsdale in around seventh place with a 57:44. Young John Kelley had gone through a little more than three minutes before us. At 15 miles at Elmsford, I was five minutes behind Young John, but I had moved up to sixth. I kept my pace steady, and little by little I caught two more runners and found myself in fourth place. I couldn’t believe it, yet I could believe it because even at age 54, I felt competitive, and I felt rested—and I knew the course. I remained in fourth, finishing in 2:37:42.

Young John, as he usually did, ran a marvelous race. He was in control the whole way. He ran a 2:27:39, in the process beating BAA teammate Alex Breckenridge (2:30:46), who’d beaten him at Boston. George Terry, Young John’s brother-in-law, took third in 2:32:21.

The training I’d been using all along—with lots of training on three days, then no training but regular work for four days—had worked for me for years, and I guess it really came together on that day in Yonkers.