TRAINING ATHLETES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 3108, 29 December 1921, Page 7

TRAINING ATHLETES.

A. I!, n HOUCK’S AC VICK. The following advice lo athletes, li'oin the pen of A, U. (Teorge, a lormer chainpion ni Kngland, Canada and Ihe I idled Stales, is |iublislied lor Ihe benelii ol local runners when undergoing iheir ing:--i lie very (irst step for the runner is in gel himself .into sound health, Exercise, of which walking ranks first lor the purpose, plain and wholesome diet, moderation in smoking (il a smoker), and other directions, eight to nine hours’ sleep, and cleanliness <d body must all llgnre in ibis. When an athlete is at business until 7 o'clock in the evening, be cannot very well walk niiieli of t.be journey to the iraining track or ground, lie should, however, contrive to walk a portion of the way to business in the morning. It litis is un more than one mile it will help, but two or three miles would be belter, and it. only means starling hall an hour earlier thati usual. It is not wise lo exercise before breakfast.. A gentle stroll for a few minutes is another •nailer, and represents a “pipe opener, is the old pros, used to say. (hi rising, briskly go over the body with damp sponge or towel, followed by a quick tub down with hands or towel, this will circulate the blood and create a fresh, vigorous feeling. The habit of taking fruit; wtib breakfast is good, and baked tipple ,c,|,!l is a big favourite with many ..bine.-. If a. portion of the journey lo business is lo be walked, care must be taken not ;:> stride out too fast, as it is not desirous to create perspiration. Whilst enjoying this early exercise, take the opportunity ol idling the lungs completely with fresh air by the aid ol deep breathing, inhale slowly through the uu.se until lint lungs are lull. Retain the breath .:,r a few monte uis and ibni exhale quickly through (lie month. Repeat lids half a dozen times, but be caret til not lo oversl rain. * . When the day's work is oyer, and a. viol in ihe truck is possible, it is no drawback io be win in on arriving. 'I lie muscles work better when warm, and there is less likelihood of a breakdown. When the weal Iter js cold and damp, such as we gel m the twirlv part of the track season, more attention' nnt.-i be paid to massage Indore going Roll bri-klv (Inn not bard) with tin* band- or a towel, and if any embrocation fancied, a .-pit'll will be tnimd lo ‘gel ibere" b.ller iban thick nils. Wear long under drawers at the start til the ea.-uti, and lids is even more ini ji; »*■(;;111 than a sweater. P.eforc cmnnieiiej 11 .. i,) praitise siatiiii'-', warm up well by :i jVw caniers mu ii the limbs feel coint nil - able. Ii is not advisable m devote all one’s energy and time to the cultivation ol speed. Kar better >pend pants in Ih'sl acquiring a iroe action. Alost athletes start taintg ~, eiiei 1 . rial run as la-l as they tan, Xaltnally, most of them get into bad habit-, and >,,1,11 ibe-'e become so Hi inly fixed .that they are newer eorreeled. “K arn bow In run before Irving io race." should be a motto displayed in every dressing - I coin. 'I be struggles and exertions many athlete.- (smite e.e:t champions) are jin 111 1 11 1 to behold to those who realise whin cniTeft rn in mentis. .Mere power has enabled many athletes ii, win nh iinpiniiships, but lar t r re:in , i things would have been possible had they learnt Imw lo make better use ol t heir i,atnra! ability. In actual racing, 'printers ..jii atM always spring into top speed at jbe Part. This should be practised in training. After a quick -ten it is well to jog along for 111 iv ia a hundred yards, gradually gel;ln; up ,-.peril, U lib It HKt.V be Ota it 11 allied fur (ifry nr a hundred yard-. Slow down gradually, as a sudd n stop is f almost as bard on tin' iiiusele; a- a snuden start. \|ter jogging alone for another half lap, erv -lowly, allot Iter burst may be tried, eijeniioti lo form, etui do not coin nitrate solely putting every ounce ol power inin ihe tunning, |i j>. e..-eei i;,l to mu in a straiglti line, il:,. fc, i ei.ninig in slight ly, so us to at lain ; lib-. Ibe 1 iid v si tot tld be square t' > the front, and wiihmti swaying at the sliotildet,-. Tbe arms -itoiild be fully extended, will; band- open, width will •prevent waste ~f ,-n..|- v bv i■ 1 1 ■ 11 (• hi ll g!,. 'I be in print in., i- vigorous ami, properly applied, a i.eat aid io the .-Irid". II the suite. 1 is from di,' , boulder line forward and slightly upward.-, it naturally imparts. ,i lilting: am! forward motion lo the limits and body. 'lll,. Inward .-.wing should mu be overdone, n will brine: about e, .-waving luofio.ii ol ill,. >hoi;]i|ei -. At the lilli-ll ol the lorwilld ■wing the bann- should not lie more ayne111e 1 nil IX i ban Ibe leuire, and not higher ih .n tlm W ilsl. I'veil that permits ot an upward .-wing I nun the elbow ol about a Here il mav be j;• >i ll l l ol out that 'he “lift’’ imparted by the amts is mainly by the forearm, ami ibis must be aimed at. if ihe whole of the arm from the shoulder be swnnr across and tip, an nndesired swaying ni tlie body will be brought a bom ( serving the arms extended is conducive t>) -i'm.ofb action and a low stride, which is sontei 1 1 i 11 •.■ to be cult ivatcd. Ihe pm-c ot tbe * 1 iead. atid body should be forward, and ilie nililete should make a praeliee ol look-j me at ih. track aboni ten y; rdy aliead. I Tiii- will also play a pan in < uablimr him in run si might. Aim to turn jbe Joe.- in .-• Ii !• ! ! '■ rather tin it, as ibis will lend j in bring the le l ', in. so that the spike marks t >|,nw a straight line, as they should. V hen ; rounding a bend lean in, and slightly increase ibe inward swing of the outside arm. whit It will help bring jbe outside loot tin »i that the straiglti line is retained, Ho , not lie afraid oi corners, (>o at them with ilasb. alwavs leaning inwards, winch will prove of much benefit. . i I,o;im in*’' iln 1 murk -maiMN j s vji<ily iiii|’ori:itii in spiinici>. 'Mi';n.' liMiiilly W'\n\ on iln* Inivk "i 'In 1 m |r ’ with the'front fool a lew inches behind, the back font being ii furl Iter twelve to eighteen incites to the rear. Ibe distances given will depend on the height ol the athlete and mils personal trials will bad hi ,hc ’disi'o'.rry' ol the actual position winch I eel.- ntesl comfortable. I lie In nil- -lion'ld he its wide apart as tile width of the -llonlili'i s. and the rear loot aboni six incites wide of the froth fool. as to gave l.i.mv i.( mum for ele;,ranee in coming llimu.git for the first si rid . If the .‘ingci's are i;ent under, so that the knuckle- are- in tlie front, with the thumbs .. ; retched backwards, it will C- found that ■ |- a leeiing of support. Ihe led will abo carry sc weight. \i the command “Sell tlie athlete will nd’vrnee bis body forward, but taking rare not to hurry nr lose balance. Ibere nm-l >i ( ,w •; ■ are.;t i oneetif at ,i-n ol utiiid. every fed ill v being alert lo le.-pmul to tlie pi5t01,,,1,,,1. ~,1,,,1. ‘ Take great eafe that the for ward imivi nn ft does mil it"tnl the .hack leg. (I j s ibis limb which imparts the mam push-off. which send- the body b.rward and ‘inwards. Tin- kne-s must be bent to secure ,|j,. l„.s! results, The front knee I- uaiurg.llv bent here, and again every effort nm.-r ibe" made lo spring forward and upward with Ibe second :-l rule. , . A sprinter should gel into top speed a) the earliest moment but it is mil policy •" spring into au upward position .tit the hrsl bound. The I'nsi few stride- are fageu will, ib" body in a I ailing forward position, but the proper running po-iiioii mit.-t be attain.d as soon as possible. Reggie Will |,,.q ~( Sotiili Africa, the Olympic 10 meP-es champion of 1908. tried pbod wh.'iein dm body was miduly I for about forty varil- ill tile hundred. wfit'll lie visited Kniihtnil later, but: it was not a success. _ Some -psinlet's impart a twisting motion In iheir toes in the lir.-t lew stride.-. It really making full use of the toes, and if , n at I dele will run slowly and try to gave ihe ball of the foot an outward twist, be will discover what i- meant. . 1 hviidin" olf litc mark smartly t- uo( all. however, ibe groat aim I)i• ill■ 1,1 work up 11 ,p -peed as quickly as possible. Kcfnr in, stride a lap, but do not : | .1,- in I all'-: lids, so man" athletes , |n, (lei into the dr. ssing room, t'ub down, dn—. and walk part of tin way borne. It will be no iiirnt if ihe walkim exercise extends lo eight o" ten miles daily, as that will lend to keep an alblele lit and welt without miming' anv risks of a breakdown. W'le-n running tbrnngb, i)' - r 'enig. the mldete should ctlil 1 vale the habit of mamjjii ji . >• n;p sfieed ami pioper ai’llOU tint 11 be is 'ibroirgh the tape. .Many printers have it habit of throwing - their arms up as tlm. reach the tape. 'I hay is a mistake, as nueonsr-siiisly -01110 do ibis before they have acliiallv passed the Hue. The beginner will prolil bv watching other athletes, which will a-si-t him lo realise what a'e faults, and also what eons' litid e- good I til'll 1 .