ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 August 1925, Page 12

ATHLETICS

( A. B. Postle, whoso 7 l-ssec for 75 (yards .stood alone in the record book (for many a day. reckons that 45 isn't* itoo old for running, and last season (at Brisbane showed that he can still (beat most of tho young fellows, though >a doubtful knee ‘sometimes goes back on him. In his spare time he shows 'younger runners how to get out oh the (holes. “Bundy” Parker, the Bamuia■land amateur sprinter, is regarded by it he ex-champion pro. as the best natural runner in this or any other land. I“Where else,” asks Postle, “will you (find a lad o? 19 who, after two weelcs’ training, will run you three inside for (100 yards? That’s what Parker can ido.” x , All runners, according to accpetea form, keep on their toes. This is the point that may he, revolutionised by Nurmi. For Nurmi does not run on his toes. He has a smooth, low gliding run, almost, if not entirely, Hatfooted. American athletes returning from the late Olympic event comment on this (states ail, English writer). It seemed that Nurmi did not run according to the usual form at all, but he never tired, and he never lacked speed for a sprint. There is nothing strange about this. I have seen some l of the Indian and they run like Nurmi. The Hopi Indians for hundreds of years have held ceremonial races, covering long distances across the deserts. Their runners to-day can out-travel a horse, and they run flat-footed, in the easiest, most natural way, without strain. RUNNING WITH A WATCH. THE NURMI PLAN. One of the most striking personalities that have ever crossed the stage of .sport within living memory (writes H. G. Lewis, the well known English sporting writer), i.s Paavo Nurmi, ol Finland, the world’s champion longdistance runner, who lias time after ‘time broken records that have stood for years. Like the aeroplane far up in the sky, 'the Flying Finn, as he is called, does 'not appear to be travelling fast. It is only when you look at your watch 'and work out his speed that you realise this runner, the greatest product ‘of a nation ,of athletes, stands in a claiss on his own.

■Nurmi is arresting not merely because lie has broken pretty welL every record between a mile anti ten mile®, but because of tlie way he does it. At the Olympic Games in 1920 he 'was jupSlb a good runner, fit to take his place with the representative® at 'all the nations. But he appeared at the stadium at Colombes, Paris, for the Games last summer with a secret that seems likely to revolutionise longdistance' running.

He had an extraordinary, yet .amazingly simple plan. it was seen that after he had covered each lap he looked .at something in his hand —a watch. Nurmi was timing himself. At once people asked: “What is the use of timing himself if the other fellows are in front? Well, hereks the answer. Supposing Nurmi is racing two miles. He knows that lie ran do it in, say, 'nine minut-ei twelve seconds, provided he does each lap in so many .seconds. . He knows that according to this schedule he is bound to win, because ’none of his opponents can equal his time. Therefore he takes no heed of anyone.

Ho refuses to be drawn into a duel for leadership, and lie care® .not -a jot ‘whether, at the half distance, or the 'three-quarter mark, he is first, tenth, or last. He knows that if lie follows his schedule lie must finish first. And, 'a,s we have seen, he does ! Nurmi has been endowed by Nature Hvith marvellou® muscles and sinews: The watch just happened! Like the speedometer to the racing motorist, it 'is invaluable. Blit it i.s the engine that does the work.