Glory, of a Kind

After Roger Bannister ran the four-minute mile a fortnight ago, all the world paid homage to the plucky runner (see RADIO & TV). Track Enthusiast George Oliver, a laborer at an R.A.F. station at Uxbridge. England, was particularly proud of his countryman. Oliver, 41, and a plodding marathoner, knew he could never aim at Bannister's kind of glory, but his love of running did get him in the news last week.

Oliver had his heart set on competing in the 16-mile foot race from Chichester to Portsmouth. But he could not afford the round-trip fare ($3.70) to Chichester.

Undaunted, he rose at 4 a.m., donned his track suit and ran off toward Chichester--60 miles away. Some eight hours later Oliver doggedly trotted into Chichester:"I was quite fresh. But there was plenty of time before the start of the race, so I lay down on the park bench and tried to sleep. But I didn't get much time to sleep because people kept staring at me, lying there in my track suit." At the starter's gun Oliver dashed off with the others. He finished on his feet, winning a third-prize medal in the handicap section."I may not be fast," puffed Oliver,"but I can finish the course." Then he took the bus and train home to Uxbridge.

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