Sport and Society Quebec
A blog devoted to the history of sport in Quebec.

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Sunday, February 24, 2008
Some old advice for marathon…

Hello, everybody!

Here in Quebec, the season of running takes off with the race and walking popular Lasalle March 30, and the half marathon in Montreal on April 20. Thus, at the dawn of the 2008 season, let's go for some tips written specifically for the marathon.

These ten tips are from a certain Jack Prout, in 1899.

1 - It is very important to stretch and warm up their muscles before the race.
2 - The application of animal fat in the muscles of the legs helps keep them warm.
3 - It is not very smart to wear new shoes or spikes.
4 - On the eve of the race, it is advisable to take a meal containing a pound of beef rare.
5 - Do drugs before and during the race.
6 - Do not allow your trainer you throw buckets of water during the race.
7 - A start-jeannot "rabbit" is the best way not to finish.
8 - Start you refuel beyond the fifteenth mile (24 km).
9 - Anyone who interrupts his race to be exposed rub usually not finish.
10 - Be careful not to spit on your fellow riders or spectators.

In defence of Prout, it is important to note that his advice has produced only three years after the first marathon. This event took place on April 10, 1896, in Athens, during the first Olympic Games. The distance was 40 km. The winner was Spiridon Louis in a time of 2h 58m 50s.

Source: Tamini, Christmas. Runners, if you knew… Spiridon, 1985 25
Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Spiridon_louis.jpg

Published by Paul Foisy at Sunday, February 24, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Challenge Gérard-Side
Hello, everybody!

A few years ago, while doing my research on Gérard side, I discovered the Athletic Club in St. Hyacinthe. Since 1993, members of the sports club organise a competition run in honor of the marathon runner.

As I am currently writing the biography of Gerard side, I am pursuing the same goals as the Athletic Club: pay tribute to our greatest runner in Quebec. Thus, in 2001, I decided to join the club to help them prepare for this event. Club members have readily accepted my idea of a photography exhibit on the career of Gérard side. This exhibition is mounted every year the day of the Challenge.

This year, the Athletic Club is celebrating the 15th Challenge. To mark the event, Mr. Benoit Chartier, publisher of the Courier Saint-Hyacinthe, has agreed to publish a souvenir booklet. This special section will be inserted in the newspaper Le Courrier few days before the event. But most importantly, a copy will be given to all runners who will start racing 5 km, 10 km and 15 km.

If you love history of sport, I invite you to race in Saint-Hyacinthe May 11. You can visit the exhibition entitled Gérard-Côté, a race of 192000 km long, and if you participate, you will be entitled to the Special Section. Profusely illustrated, this book will offer an overview of the career of Gérard side and focus on the year 1948, a year particularly successful in the life of Maskoutain.