Snell Says "Never Again” To Running In Front

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 19

Snell Says "Never Again” To Running In Front

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 18. P. G. Snell said today that he would never again run in a race out in front the way he did in his world record mile last night. “And I mean never,” he added.

He said that he had to force himself over the last two laps. “It was a funny feeling—l knew I had it in me but the urge wasn’t there like other times.”

He said that the last lap “seemed ages” in finishing. “I could feel myself getting slower and slower and slower.” Asked why he decided on the tactics he employed, he said, “I did it for three reasons:— “First, I was feeling so good in myself.

“Second, I wanted to show that I could run a Herb El-liott-style race. “And lastly, as I hadn’t done it before, I just wanted to see what it was like. “Now I know and I won’t do it again.” Snell admitted that to run a first half-mile in Imin 54sec during a mile race was considered suicidal. “The experts will criticise me for running the way I did,

but I was aware of what I was doing. It turned out all right, admittedly, but I will not adopt such tactics again." Discussing his future plans, Snell said: “I’d like to ease up on miles.” He would like to reduce his running as much as possible for a while. He has accepted an invitation to run at Wanganui on November 28 but is undecided whether he will run over a mile there. Another engagement he will undertake is to run at Hamilton on Decemebr 9. This might be over a half-mile, he said. He has no intention of making an attempt on Elliott’s 1500 metres world record. Although he is going to ease up on all competitive running, Snell intends to keep in light training. He has a trip to Europe in view and if this eventuates he would have to resume stronger work after Christmas. Odlozil expects both Snell and J. L. Davies to run in Prague next year. Snell replied: “Maybe this Prague visit can be arranged. John and I are certainly keen to meet Josef there.” Mr A. L. Lydiard, Snell’s coach, said today: “Last night’s race showed that no runner was ever too experienced to learn something new. “And Peter learnt not to

burn himself out in the first half of the race,” he added. "He found that once you start to stop in a race like that . . . well, you just stop. For him to shatter the record he would need to run a much more even mile.” Snell has now broken the four-minute mile 10 times. He did this three times in 1962, four times in 1963 and three times this year. London's evening newspapers today gave prominence to Snell's run. “Fabulous Peter Snell smashes world mile record," said the “Evening News” over its back page lead story.