‘Tiger Tuck’ reduced his weight by running while eating all he liked

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 14

‘Tiger Tuck’ reduced his weight by running while eating all he liked

One of my most memorable encounters with the police occurred about the time I completed New Zealand’s first 24-hour run. I had just turned 50 and had been running for 18 months and the distance was 104 miles. Big crime stories were breaking in New Zealand and, as correspondent for the London “Daily Express,” I made regular news gathering calls at the police station. One member of the police force who gave me inestimable help was Senior Sergeant Ernest Stanley Tuck. The West Coast Tuck family has produced numbers of renowned boxers and axemen, and when Ernie was at the top of his form in these sports his correct weight was about 131 stone. One day, when still somewhat carried away with the idea that my run might encourage other men of my age to get into shape, I called at the Watch House to find Senior Sergeant Tuck on duty. He had gone up to about 16 stone and I was startled enough at the

huge bulk of the man that I exclaimed: “Ernie, you look like a huge earlymodel battleship stranded and left to rust on a sandbank.” Then I stood back for an instant, manoeuvring for a quick exit. But like many big men Ernie is go'od-natured. Instead of flooring me on the spot he let his laugh resound through the Watch House office. “Ho ho ho,” boomed Ernie, “Ho' ho ho.. . .” But to my astonishment, Ernie took the hint. He began training and along with Assistant Commis-

sioner Gideon Tait was one of the first policemen in New Zealand to take up running. Now dozens o'f policemen are in the sport. Ernie recalls that his first training outings were walking and slow-running between alternate lamp posts. He was then 49. Soon he was handling longer outings and became fit enough to increase his mileage with regular long runs along the Summit Road and back. That’s when he began to shed surplus weight. He got back to his

fighting weight of 13£ stone. In the Christchurch Harrier Club Ernie earned the nick name of “Tiger Tuck” because of his fiercely competitive running, especially on hilly cross-coun-try courses. He achieved good times in the annual 20-mile race from Christchurch to Rangiora as a member of the Christchurch Harrier Club and only recently was host at a big club run from his home in Eastern i Terrace. Meantime there still seems to be some sports, medicine theorists who have no practical ex-

perience, putting forward claims that you can’t reduce weight by running unless you reduce your food intake as well. Ernie Tuck is one of the many men of veteran age to take up distance training who is running proof that they are wrong. He was and continues to be a hearty eater. Ernie said this week: “I never have to cut down on eating except on the day of a big road race or an inter-club run, when I have only a light meal. “Just three or four cheese

sandwiches and a hot drink about eleven o'clock,” he added, modestly. “When I got fit I could handle all the stress situ-

ations in the police job without ever getting in a flap.” Ernie, now retired, is 65 and as fit as ever. He is still 13-1 stone. Entries in the recent Sedley Wells mid-winter marathon and half-mara-thon showed that there were increasing numbers of big men newly taking part in long-distance events. So if you are among the many big-built big-eaters, attracted to long distance training but not wishing to starve yourself, you can take heart.

Practical experience continues to show that about the only factor that can stop anyone of normal metabolism from reducing weight by running without

starving, is going lame and being forced to give up the sport. The heavier you are the more prone you are to soft tissue and jo'jnt injuries caused by road shock. This is why, right from the start, you should invest. in proper jar-absorb-ent running shoes of proven sound design. And may I also suggest that like Ernie Tuck you begin training gradually. Too much too soon, along with wearing unsuitable shoes are the two most prevalent causes of injuries. Meantime if you would like some training hints for beginners, and/or if your running is not reducing your weight, drop a note to "Runners Diary,” c/- P.O. Box 1766, Christchurch and we will try to help you.