"The marathon turned out a dismal fiasco. The whole conduct of the race on the part of
the responsible officials, beginning with the tardy date of the announcement abroad down to
the smallest details providing, or rather failing to provide, for the convenience of contestants on the fatal day, and the entire absence of precautions to ensure fair play, can only be characterized by the one word “Presposterous” – with a capital P.
Add to this the non-sporting instincts of the French populace and it will not be necessary to cite fully the details of the troubles that invariably beset the strangers only bicycles and cars for obstacles.
At the best it proved a steeplechase, 25 miles is really too far for a steeplechase, but that was with mere circumstance. Suffice it to say that when the three placed men in last year's London to Brighton GAYP found it necessary to retire inside of four miles and Arthur Newton (a well known
long distance record breaker in the States), who was unwise enough to finish, took
longer than walking time to complete the distance, it shows that things were very, very wrong.
I could a further tale unfold...but 'no mattah.