American athlete (1886-1965) remembered as the gold medal winner in the marathon race at the 1908 London Olympics; he was the first man to win a marathon at the now official standard distance of 26 miles, 385 yards, as Olympic officials lengthened the course to put the finish line in front of the Royal Box. Archive of 10 autograph letters signed by Johnny Hayes, all signed "John" or "Johnnie," totaling 45 pages (mostly on both sides of adjoining sheets), postmarked from 1909 to 1910, all to Anna Rielly in Jersey City. Hayes discusses his training, travels, and races throughout these interesting letters. Selected excerpts:
October 11, 1909: "Just a line to let you know am still alive & sure kicking." He discusses his travels via train to St. Paul and his upcoming race: "Well the two other fellows, St. Ives & Connelly have this ride before they run so I guess I got their number." He mentions going on a three-mile run.
October 21, 1909: "Arrived here on a Tuesday night & had to train Wed. & Thurs & run Sunday. But when I arrived at 20 miles in the race I knew I was rotten & came near quitting but kept on and finished 3rd in a field of 14. Will run again 20 miles in Spokane on the 31st, expect to be home by Christmas."
November 5, 1909: "It has been raining here since Sunday, our race was put off for a week…Johnny Marsh the Canadian runner & myself have become fast friends & we do our training together…Am fast rounding into good shape & expect by the time I reach California to be able to beat some of these runners but they are good make no mistake about that…Your note about not running I appreciate as it is well meant but there is as much chance of my dying in a race as there is of going to heaven for me & that is very slim."
January 5, 1910: "Will Durando & myself have been matched to run here either on the 16th or 23rd and if you insist on making that robe I can use it…Mike Ryan sent me a very nice letter telling me that he got 3rd at Yonkers & telling me I could beat these fellows."
March 4, 1910: "I won & broke all records up to 20 miles & would have broken them to the finish if I didn't go out so fast & then it rained all through the race a fine mist which kept the track in terrible condition. Marsh quit at 6 miles complaining of his feet & I had a lap on all but 40 yds on St. Ives when he did the same as he did in Chicago got gold in his feet. I was two laps ahead at 10 miles & at mile and 1/2 half ahead of Connelly at the finish I would have beaten Durando sure had he run."
May 11, 1910: "Ryan has taken a lot of my time up training him if he get into good shape he will probably have a lot of Canadian money bet on him in the coming race & is likely to win."
June 14, 1910: "Ryan had his fortune told in a tea cup the other day and can't get the same sleep as he used to…My Boston race was postponed and it begins to look as if I won't get home before the 1st of January…We observed Sunday by getting up and running 5 miles before breakfast and going to Church."
June 22, 1910: "I am getting tired of this place and after my race in Buffalo on the 29th…the race in Toronto being called off, I intend to prep Mike for his race in Buffalo on the 4th and if possible we will leave that night for home. Mike won a beautiful cabinet with 27 pieces of silver at the Falls."
December 1, 1910: "Have a nice quiet room in a quiet hotel and take my meals at the home of the promoter whose name is Bell and everything is O.K. but the race and it looks as if we will at least make some money. This garden here is a beautiful place and can seat 10,000 people and measures a track 10 laps to the mile and with a good promoter we ought to make some money."
December 5, 1910: "It has been snowing here almost unceasingly since I came but I have got my work in just the same and believe me I am going to show these sports some running." In overall fine condition. Also includes a letter sent to Hayes by "Murphy," on Athletic Association of the University of Pennsylvania letterhead, dated October 19, 1908, offering training advice: "I wish I could go on there with you and help you get in shape for this race, I am as sure as can be you can lick this fellow, but you will have to work and work hard, get so that you can train 25 miles in two and a half hours." All letters are accompanied by their original mailing envelopes.
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