TOO FIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 13 February 1929, Page 2

TOO FIT

STANLEY DOUSE ON TENNIS TRAINING RETIREMENT QUESTION Tiio tragic and sudden death of Colonel 11. G. Mayes, who was acknowledged to he the fittest man who ever played lawn tennis, makes one wonder whether it is wise to bo permanently in such excjelleiit physical condition as he undoubtedly was, writes Stanley N. Doust, the ex-lawn tennis international, in an English newspaper. Mayes was in his 49th year, and 1 imagine that he cultivated the muscular side and forgot that his arteries were every day becoming harder. Perhaps some medical man will correct my statement, but, from a layman’s point of view, when a man reaches 40 his best athletic days are over and he should relax training—so as not .to nut further strain oil .the heart. Mayes did not do this. lie could go on to a lawn tennis court and outlast men 25 and more years his junior. He gloried in his own fitness and we all c-nvied him.

RICH DIET NEEDED

But lie denied himself much in the way of food and drink and was constantly calliug upon his own vitality to the detriment of his heart. Consequently when he was attacked by illness his end was sudden, as it is with so many athletes. I remember going to a specialist in Harley street some years ago and the subject of over-training was thoroughly gone- into, I had been dieting and had given up smoking and was a total abstainer. All this time I was playing in lawn tennis tournaments week in and week out.

The specialist told me that what I needed was plenty -of rich things to eat and good wine to drink. “You are overtrained,” he said, “and in all athlete games like lawn tennis it is necessary to have something at dinner tljat, can be corrected exercise you are to take next day,” , From what I, know of Mayes he would eschew such advice.

Athletes are not long livers. Seldom does one hear of an athlete living to 80. Is it because their hearts have had so much to do during their, youth? The Doherty brothers, R. Laurentz, to name but three lawn tennis players, passed away at a comparatively early age. A. W. Gore, who died recently, was 61 and was perfectly fit- two years ago. In other realms <pf sport the same thing happens. It all. boils down to the question whether it is better to retire from strenuous games earlier in life find whether in the heyday of life we prepare piurselves properly for the sport we undertake.