Read, 35, "ReachingPrime” As International Walker

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 19

Read, 35, "ReachingPrime” As International Walker

The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON. The 1956 Olympic 50-kilometre road walk champion, N. R. Read, will try to repeat his Melbourne success at Mexico City in 1968. Looking fit and sun-tanned, Read returned to New Zealand on Monday aboard the Angelina Lauro, after 17 months overseas.

He said that be considered he is now reaching his prime and would resume competitive walking as soon as possible. “A walker usually reaches his peak between the age of 33 and 38,” he said. “I’m now 35 and I should be at my strongest by Mexico City.” 3rd Place. Disappointed Read was disappointed with his effort in Jamaica where he finished third in the 20mile walk. “In winning the English 20mile championship in June I beat both the first and second place-getters at Kingston so

naturally I was not entirely happy with my effort,” he said.

“My best effort overseas was winning the English championship, then I would rate my second placing in the 50 miles London-Brighton race in September. “I did the latter without training so I was quite pleased with the result.” No 11l Effects Read said that he spent some days in Mexico as a guest of Mr A. L. Lydiard, and trained in 10,000 ft altitude. “The first day I did quite a bit running and jogging for up to an hour and half and felt no ill effects at all,” he said.

“This was at 10,000 feet —a lot higher than Mexico City. “The next day we were

down at Mexico City (7500 ft and I worked out on the track doing fast repetition 4005.” “I felt fine—no sign of leth-argy—-till I thought—‘Gosh here 1 am at 7500 feet—l’m supposed to feel tired.’ “Almost immediately I felt tired and during the rest of the work-out lacked my usual zip.” He felt the effects of the altitude at Mexico City were more psychological than physiological. “Any athlete who goes there fully fit two weeks or so before the games will have no trouble at all,” he said.

U.K. Soccer.— Mansfield Town beat Torquay United. 4-2, in an English League, division three soccer match on Monday