Kelley's Hobby

The first marathon (490 B.C.) killed the winner, Pheidippides.* But skinny, bandy-legged Johnny Kelley scarcely worked up a sweat last week in the Boston Athletic Association's 49th annual marathon. Trotting briskly down asphalt Exeter Street, he waved a victor's clenched fist to the crowd, kissed his father and wheezed: "Pa, I made it." An oversize laurel wreath kept slipping over his ears.

Johnny swallowed a lump of sugar after every fourth mile. He nursed his 37-year-old legs up & down hill for 26 miles and 385 yards, turned into Exeter Street to see a pretty sight--no one in front of him. He had won the run ten years ago, finished second six times since. Asked why he kept at his punishing pastime, Kelley replied: "Some people play golf in the rain, some stay up all night. Running is my hobby."

*Who ran the 22 miles from Marathon to Athens to bring the news of Miltiades' victory over the Persians.

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