Marathon keeps pace after 50 years

"In 1960, there were three true marathons in the United States — Boston, Yonkers and the Western Hemisphere Marathon in Culver City, Calif.

When I announced to the AAU long-distance Chairman Fred Biele of Kansas City University, the date of the marathon, he quickly told me I was crazy, that no one would enter and, if they did, no one would finish.

He was right only on the first observation. We had five entries, and two finished."

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/sep/02/marathon-keeps-pace-after-50-years/