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north americas first marathon

Posted by larry on January 14, 2008, 11:30 am

I have always been a bit curious so spent a little time trying to see if I could find the route for the 1896 marathon (Sept 20 1896) from Stamford CT to NYC. Nearly everything online (and in history books) says that it finished at Columbus Circle which turns out NOT to be true at all. I found archival newspaper information (NY Times) that gave the approximate route. It started at the armory in Stamford (which was/is on Summer St.). The 30 participants took a train from NYC at 10:03, it was a pouring rainstorm in the morning but the race started at 12:26 with 2000 spectators at the starting line. The route was naturally unpaved and was apparently a quagmire of sorts from the rain. It was described as hilly. The paper gave the intermediate towns along the way and it seems likely that the course followed the Boston Post Rd (Rt. 1) most or all of the way. As I mentioned, the race did not finish at Columbus Circle. Instead it finished at an athletic field called the Columbia Oval (in the Bronx) which apparently was the facilty used by Columbia Univ and the community at large. There was an afternoon track meet (in Sept?) during that day which was interrupted to accomodate a highlight of the day, the finish of the marathon. It was apparently a big draw and a real sensation, with several thousand spectators on-hand. It was described as a 25 mile run with one (or more) lap(s) around the track at the finish. Anyway, given what I as able to find and using the USTAF running route website to unearth as much of the original route as possible, I was able to find a route that must be close the the course. I included any parallel "old-Boston Post Rd. sections" where identifiable. My route is a bit over 24 miles. Given the straightening, paving, flattening and widening of roads it is probably close to the original route. If you check the elevations changes in this course as indicated on the USTAF site, it was undoubtedly a toughie. The BAA course must have been seen as a pancake course vs. this one. I'm not surprised the original NY race only lasted a year given how hard it was. I've had my Vespa out and on about 90% of this route a few times and am curious to take a look at the rest of it when spring comes.

Link: 1896 route

Message Thread:

north americas first marathon - larry January 14, 2008, 11:30 am
- Re: north americas first marathon - Stevie V January 14, 2008, 4:10 pm
  - Re: north americas first marathon - gary January 14, 2008, 4:29 pm
    - Re: north americas first marathon - LAwrence ALLEN January 15, 2008, 11:02 am
      - Re: north americas first marathon - gary January 15, 2008, 12:55 pm
        
        New York City Ultra? - Roger M January 15, 2008, 2:33 pm
        
        Re: New York City Ultra? - gary January 15, 2008, 3:29 pm
        
        Re: New York City Ultra? - LA January 15, 2008, 3:40 pm
        
        Re: New York City Ultra? - gary January 15, 2008, 3:57 pm
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--Previous Message-- : I have always been a bit curious so spent a : little time trying to see if I could find : the route for the 1896 marathon (Sept 20 : 1896) from Stamford CT to NYC. Nearly : everything online (and in history books) : says that it finished at Columbus Circle : which turns out NOT to be true at all. I : found archival newspaper information (NY : Times) that gave the approximate route. It : started at the armory in Stamford (which : was/is on Summer St.). The 30 participants : took a train from NYC at 10:03, it was a : pouring rainstorm in the morning but the : race started at 12:26 with 2000 spectators : at the starting line. The route was : naturally unpaved and was apparently a : quagmire of sorts from the rain. It was : described as hilly. The paper gave the : intermediate towns along the way and it : seems likely that the course followed the : Boston Post Rd (Rt. 1) most or all of the : way. As I mentioned, the race did not finish : at Columbus Circle. Instead it finished at : an athletic field called the Columbia Oval : (in the Bronx) which apparently was the : facilty used by Columbia Univ and the : community at large. There was an afternoon : track meet (in Sept?) during that day which : was interrupted to accomodate a highlight of : the day, the finish of the marathon. It was : apparently a big draw and a real sensation, : with several thousand spectators on-hand. : It was described as a 25 mile run with one : (or more) lap(s) around the track at the : finish. Anyway, given what I as able to find : and using the USTAF running route website to : unearth as much of the original route as : possible, I was able to find a route that : must be close the the course. I included any : parallel "old-Boston Post Rd. : sections" where identifiable. My route : is a bit over 24 miles. Given the : straightening, paving, flattening and : widening of roads it is probably close to : the original route. If you check the : elevations changes in this course as : indicated on the USTAF site, it was : undoubtedly a toughie. The BAA course must : have been seen as a pancake course vs. this : one. I'm not surprised the original NY race : only lasted a year given how hard it was. : I've had my Vespa out and on about 90% of : this route a few times and am curious to : take a look at the rest of it when spring : comes. : : : :

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