By John B. Manbeck
a Brooklyn historian
Special to The Brooklyn Eagle

While last Sunday's New York City Marathon faced pleasant weather, the Brooklyn
Marathon in 1909 — a century ago — prepared Brooklynites for any possible
threatening climatic challenges.

Started the year earlier, the race tried the endurance of the 150 runners
because it was run on Lincoln's Birthday, February 12. The runners started at
the 13th Armory in Crown Heights, ran along Ocean Parkway, then past Coney
Island's silent amusements to Sea Gate and back, a 26-mile run. In 1909, the
temperatures dipped to the 30s, as can be attested by the 250,000 fans in the
photo, all wearing overcoats.

The favorite, James Crowley, is shown after the race posing with warmly dressed
supporters. Crowley, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club was known as
"King of the Marathoners" because he had finished more marathons than anyone
else. The year before he had won the Yonkers Marathon on Thanksgiving Day before
a crowd of 20,000. Later, in December 1908, he finished second in the marathon
from Rye to Columbus Circle, Manhattan. By 1910, Crowley hit his stride again by
breaking all records at Celtic Park, Queens.

Unfortunately, Crowley came in second in the 1909 Brooklyn Marathon, losing to
James Clarke. Crowley entered the Boston Marathon later the same year but came
in fourth up in Beantown. Possibly it was because Crowley was barefoot while
Clarke wore garters on his stockings. Edwin White came in fifth.

A second 26-mile Brooklyn Marathon took place the following week, February 22,
on Washington's birthday, with 100 runners starting. Using a similar route,
Clarke was the favorite this time. (Crowley opted out on this one.) Clarke
started ahead of the pack but began to fail at mile 22, according to The New
York Times. The race finished in the armory with several turns around the inside
track where Clarke hopelessly tried to catch up. He came in third with Albert
Raines of the Xavier Athletic Association second; the winner: Edwin White of
Holy Cross Lyceum!

The route of this Brooklyn Marathon started at the Armory to Prospect Park West
to Grand Army Plaza; then from Albany Avenue to Clarkson to Flatbush to
Cortelyou to Ocean Parkway; finally from Surf Avenue to West 31st Street. They
returned from Surf to Ocean Parkway to Parkside, then from Ocean Avenue to
Flatbush to Prospect Park West finishing at the Armory.

The Brooklyn Marathon continued until 1915. By then, February temperatures had
dropped to zero, so the wiser minds cancelled it.

A modified 15-mile version of the Brooklyn race took place in Coney Island in
1922. In 1928, a marathon sponsored by Il Progresso, the Italian language
newspaper, started at Elm Street, Manhattan, finishing at Luna Park amusement
center in Coney Island. That race was marked by runner-automobile collisions
with several major injuries. In other races, spectators often joined the
competition.

But the serious runners had to wait until 1970 when the five-borough New York
Marathon was founded. The Cherry Tree Marathon (on Washington's Birthday with
blizzard dangers), established in 1959, preceded today's marathon; it ran
through Bronx streets and finished near Yankee Stadium. The first New York City
Marathon restricted itself to Central Park with four loops around the roadways.
In 1973, the event attracted sponsors. The race was routed through all five
boroughs in 1976 in honor of the country's bicentennial. By 1981, the
competition earned media status with the race being televised.

Today's marathon races date back to the first modern one run in Athens in 1896,
a 25-mile race between Athens and Marathon, Greece. Boston started their
marathon race in 1897, still the oldest continuous one being run. In the New
York vicinity, Yonkers began one in 1907, which raced in November. A marathon in
December 1908 started in the Bronx, passed through Harlem to a finale at
Columbus Circle. Another marathon in 1909 was held at the old Madison Square
Garden (at Madison Square at 23rd Street) and a "marathon derby" took place at
the Polo Grounds the same year.

With an American winner, Meb Keflezighi, in 2009 as well as six Americans
finishing in the top 10, the marathon has again become an American sport after
27 years of natives losing out. The 40th New York City Marathon has become an
event New Yorkers are proud of. It's just too bad the winner lives in
California, not Brooklyn.

Information about the history of the Marathon came from New York City Parks web
site and The New York Times. Photos came from the Library of Congress.

© 2009 John B. Manbeck manbeck@...

————————

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2009 All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are
protected by United States copyright law. Just a reminder, though -- It's not
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————————

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2009 All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are
protected by United States copyright law. Just a reminder, though -- It's not
considered polite to paste the entire story on your blog. Most blogs post a
summary or the first paragraph,( 40 words) then post a link to the rest of the
story. That helps increase click-throughs for everyone, and minimizes copyright
issues. So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net

Due to lack of interest, we have had to cancel the pasta party.  If you are
still interested in getting together for dinner on Saturday night, call Steve
917.238.9447.

The club will be having our annual pasta party on Saturday, October 31 at the
Knights of Columbus. Dinner is for members and non-members, those running the
marathon and those just cheering it on. Come and discuss your marthon goals and
support those running. RSVP is mandatory, the sooner the better, 917.238.9447

Runner's World Magazine Wants Your Tips for a Story

The editors of Runner's World magazine want to know: What non-running-related
items/products have you used in place of actual running gear as quick-fix
substitutions?
For example: Maybe you ran out of BodyGlide and discovered that ChapStick or
diaper rash cream prevents chafing just as well. Or you forgot to pick up Gu
from the running store and found that Swedish Fish can keep you going through a
long run. Or that duct tape can quiet a throbbing blister when a Band-Aid isn't
handy.

We'd like to hear about any non-running "gear" that's helped you get through a
run or race--especially anything that helped prevent/treat an injury or helped
keep you healthy and comfortable. Please e-mail writer Lisa Jones at
l.a.jones@... by October 23 with your clever and surprisingly effective
substitutions. We'll publish the best stories in an upcoming issue of Runner's
World. Please include your first name, last name, age, city, and state, as well
as contact info (in case we need to ask you any additional questions). Thanks
for your help! -The editors of Runner's World

I'm just realizing that the trains are a little screwy tomorrow
morning. Anyone want to share a cab/car from center slope?

JR

Are there any park slopers headed up to NYRR to pick up their number
for the SI half this week?

If you are and wouldn't mind picking up my number for me, let me know.

thanks,

JR

October Local Races
Eileen Dugan 5K - 10/4, 10:00 AM to benefit Circle of Hope Cancer Foundation,
4th Place and Court Street.
Restoration Community 10K, 10/11, 10:00 AM at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration
Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street.
Race Against Violence 5K, 10/18, 10:00 AM, John Paul Jones Park, 101st and 4th
avenue (registration on www.active.com).

Cardiac Screening
We were recently contacted by Roosevelt Hospital about their cardiac screening
program:
Every year bikers of all abilities experience cardiac related traumas that could
have easily been avoided by screening for preexisting risk factors. The Division
of Cardiology at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals has created a unique program
dedicated to reducing cardiovascular risks associated with participation in
competitive and recreational sports and exercise. Dr. Merle Myerson, herself an
avid runner, is a board-certified cardiologist and Director of the Pre-Exercise
Heart Screening Program, the only program of its kind in New York. She has
worked with athletes of all levels, from beginner to professional, and is
actively involved with other athletic organizations in the City.

Club member Dr. Sam Altstein (who is again running this year's NYC Marathon -
good luck Sam!) is the medical director of a similar facility with the newest
CAT scan.  Sam can be reached at INNER IMAGING, 307 East 63rd Street,
212-991-5445

If you'd like to learn more about her pre-exercise heart screening services you
can also contact Dr. Merle Myerson, Roosevelt Hospital
425 West 59th Street, Suite 9D, (between 9th and 10th Avenues),(212) 492-5550

Solid sterling silver, extremely detailed running shoe. 1/2" long on 16"
sterling chain. Available at www.myflyingfoot.com or bezelset@....
See photo in album "Sterling Silver Running Shoe."

Again this year the BRRC will be offering bus service to the start of the NYC
Marathon at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island. The bus will leave at 6:15AM from
15th Street and Prospect Park West. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for
nonmembers. To reserve your spot, send your check to BRRC, P.O. Box 90108,
Brooklyn, NY 11209-0002. Questions? Call Steve at 917.238.9447

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Can anyone tell me how to sign up for one of the busses to the NYC
Marathon start? I don't remember which one I took last year but I
remember that PPTC and BRR both ran one. Thanks!

Hey Natasha:
It will be great to have you, please introduce yourself if you come;)
Weekends, Jodi H (the Fitness Manager at Bay Ridge)is good. Saturdays at 9:30AM
(double check the time).
Cheers,
Colleen
>
>
> --- In BrooklynRoadRunners@yahoogroups.com, "atalanta26pt2" <atalanta26pt2@>
wrote:
> >
> > Hi, JR~
> > This may be shameless self-promotion, but I've teaching spinning for 6
years. I now teach Tuesday mornings and evenings at Harbor Fitness in Park Slope
(6:30 AM, 7PM). These classes are geared towards the moderate to serious
athlete, as I, too, want to get in good cross training while I do the job. You
can just pay the guest fee if you come, which I think is $10. You might also
talk to the manager and see if you can work out a deal. Ya never know.
> > Let me know if you have questions.
> >
> > The number and location are at the site below:
> > http://www.harborfitness.com/intro/
> > ~Colleen
> >
>

Hi Colleen!  This is good to know, as I am a member of Harbor Fitness and take
spin classes sporadically there with a great instructor and have been wanting to
take a hard class at Park Slope as well, now that I know when you are teaching,
I will definitely take one of your classes...can you suggest a good instructor
on the week-ends as well?? thanks!  - Natasha


--- In BrooklynRoadRunners@yahoogroups.com, "atalanta26pt2" <atalanta26pt2@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi, JR~
> This may be shameless self-promotion, but I've teaching spinning for 6 years.
I now teach Tuesday mornings and evenings at Harbor Fitness in Park Slope (6:30
AM, 7PM). These classes are geared towards the moderate to serious athlete, as
I, too, want to get in good cross training while I do the job. You can just pay
the guest fee if you come, which I think is $10. You might also talk to the
manager and see if you can work out a deal. Ya never know.
> Let me know if you have questions.
>
> The number and location are at the site below:
> http://www.harborfitness.com/intro/
> ~Colleen
>

Hi, JR~
This may be shameless self-promotion, but I've teaching spinning for 6 years. I
now teach Tuesday mornings and evenings at Harbor Fitness in Park Slope (6:30
AM, 7PM). These classes are geared towards the moderate to serious athlete, as
I, too, want to get in good cross training while I do the job. You can just pay
the guest fee if you come, which I think is $10. You might also talk to the
manager and see if you can work out a deal. Ya never know.
Let me know if you have questions.

The number and location are at the site below:
http://www.harborfitness.com/intro/
~Colleen

Now that I'm ramping up my marathon training, I'm looking to do some
spin classes for cross training.

I don't need a full gym membership, but would love to find a place in
the Slope that allows you to do pay-per-class spinning.

Does anyone have a place that they can recommend?

thanks,

JR

Had a great run this morning with John, Tim, Howard, and Holly.  Looking forward
to Tuesday!