I suffer from stress related insomnia and as a result watch a lot of crap late night TV.
Last night I watched a hilarious movie made in the 60s about 4 guys training for the marathon in the Rome Olympics. An American 800m convert and doper played by Ryan O Neal, a "darkie fellah" from Australia, a Brit pansy played by Michael Crawford...who looked a bit like a runner...and a wily old Czech.
The American ends up running into a statue plinth and busting his face, the Brit tries to run the first ever sub 2 hour marathon and comes into the stadium looing like a male stripper with rabies, and the darkie fellah outkicks the little Czech for the win.
Awful acting, but a pretty good insight into attitudes towards the marathon in the 60s.