113: Ultrarunning Stranger Things – Part 3: Sickness and Death

Ultrarunning History

By Davy Crockett You can read, listen, or watch Sadly, some professional walkers and runners from the “pedestrian” era, more than 120 years ago, became afflicted by mental and physical illness during and after six-day runs, likely caused by the powerful drugs and stimulants that were used at the time, and also due to mental stress breakdowns. Enormous pressure was put on them by their financial backers to be successful. Their “trainers” or crew would at times resort to measures that would have long-term effects on the health of their runners to get a short-term financial windfall. Not only would they load their runners full of stimulants, but would use cruel methods to keep them awake, including sticking needles in their skin, whipping them, and waking them up with very loud horns. Run Davy Crockett's Pony Express Trail 50 or 100-miler to be held on October 14-15, 2022, on the historic wild west Pony Express Trail in Utah. Run among the wild horses. Crew required. Your family and friends drive along with you. http://ponyexpress100.org/ Runners Accused of Becoming Insane In some cases, runners acted so irrationally that they were declared insane and committed to institutions. John Gowan In 1891, John Gowan (real name Robert Sherlock), called “the salvation army walker” participated in a six-day race in Madison Square Garden and had reached 278 miles. Just after midnight, Gowan showed signs of mental trouble. Instead of sleeping during the night he rested while singing gospel hymns. In the morning he started walking again, but his eyes grew wild and staring, and he let out a wild-west war whoop. “His trainer squeezed a sponge soaked in water and ammonia in his face. Gowan struck his trainer in the face and made a bolt for the Madison Avenue end of the Garden.” He cleared the fence of the track in one leap. “Then the fellow rushed wildly down the paved lobby, cleared the brass railing at the ticket box, and ran out into Madison Square Garden arrayed in all the glory of dirty tights and a bright bule silk jumper. Two policemen gave chase and caught the escaped pedestrian. Bringing him back, the officers lifted him bodily over the rail, and his trainers led him back to his hut and put him to bed. A moment later one of them opened the door to take a peep at the fatigue-crazed pedestrian and Gowan plumped him a singing blow in the face.” He was then locked in his hut but later broke out, insisting on returning to the track, half naked. A policeman convinced him to change his mind. “The crazed fellow drank nearly a quart of kerosene oil that was in the hut which he had been locked into by the trainers.” His friends next took him to a room in Putnam House and locked him in. But he escaped through a window and down a fire escape. "Upon reaching the street he sped down 4th Avenue in quicker time than was ever made on the tanbark. At this point he was spied by an officer. When the officer tried to arrest the man, he fought like a tiger and finally assistance had to be called. He was taken to the police precinct and thence in an ambulance to Bellevue hospital." It was concluded that his illness was caused by a lack of nourishment. The trainers were accused of giving Gowan so much whisky that it would have knocked out a man. It was believed that he had gone insane. A few days later, he had recovered. “A short rest was all that was needed to restore his mind.” His sister commented that he had not been fit for the severe mental or physical effort demanded by a six-day race. He retired from the sport. Ultrarunning Fans Committed Not only would runners be accused of going insane from six-day races, but there was also one case of a spectator acting strangely. In 1888, Julia Finley of New York City had attended a six-day match with great enthusiasm. Afterwards it was said that she was found constantly walking around her apartment, believing that she was beating the world record.