ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 January 1927, Page 12

ATHLETICS

PADDOCK ON TRAINING. In a letter to the Associated Amateur Sports Committee of Victoria, C. VC. Paddock, the world famous sprinter, states that if all goes well he may yet visit Australia, from which it is not- "too much to hope that there may be a chance of the great American figuring on the running tracks of New Zealand before his retirement from .sport, in which lie has been such a conspicuous figure for so many years. In his letter, Paddock gives some advice to runners in training, but differentiates between a youth under 20 years of age and a grown man. He considers a youth is always more or lees fit, being kept in this condition by normal games. “They need at least three weeks’ preparation, however,” he says. “But it takes a grown man two months to oet into form.” Regular hours l for food and rest are points he stresses. In regard to food, lie. advises cutting down pastry and sweets, but is open in his mind in regard to other diet. The first week of track work should consist of quiet jogging with a little work at three-quarter pace. In the second week mild work on the .start may he tried with some 50 vards runs through at three-quarter pace. The third week a man should swing into his regular work. There should ho half-a-dozen start® over 40 to 60 yards, a hard 150 yards, and once a week 300 yard® all out. Paddock believes in cutting out track work entirely the day before ai race, and if a runner is in good condition two clays’ rest is not too much. That long rest puts hjm on his mettle for the competition.

Paddock believes in cutting out idealism in modern sport. 1 ‘Every athlete is an architect,” he says. “He builds a noble' house to protect a fighting heart.” •The person who has mastered himself on the athletic field will master the game of life.” “A team is no stronger than the weakest member,” “A nation is no stronger than her athletes.” These are some of the statements lie makes. He cites the instance of Hannibal, who led the Carthaginian army against Rome. The Carthaginians would never have done so well against Rome had they not been trained athletes.” “The rules of the game prevent an athlete from indulging in vicious amusements, and the spirit of the game makes him a good citizen.” “Some people object to hard sport because it is rough” goes on Paddock, ‘‘hut :it is better to have a broken bone than a broken character.” As a character builder, •amateur athletics is in the front rank. A boy in competition must work hard, train hard, and sacrifice if lie is to reach his goal. Sportsmanship is the keynote of athletics, because it is international. That is why we have the Olympia Games. Whoever has played with the Chinese or the Japs will not worry about the Yellow Peril. From 'sportsmanship comes understanding. When all nations get the spirit of sportsmanship, and play the game as athletes do. the cause of war will he eliminated.