A Diary of Sport TRAINING YOUNG HARRIERS

Southland Times, Issue 24158, 21 June 1940, Page 10

A Diary of Sport TRAINING YOUNG HARRIERS

Importance Of Team Work

By

WHISTLE

The encouragement of team work is a feature of cross-country running that should not be forgotten by those responsible for the training of young harriers. It is noticeable that in the usual weekly runs little attempt is made to establish this very essential side of harrier work.

The pack should mot be permitted to string out over a mile of country and it should be the duty of the pack leader to encourage slower members to keep up as far as possible. They could be assisted by encouragement from the faster men and by permitting them to take turn about in making the pace for a time, with the proviso, of course, that the pace must not drag unduly. If a man is obviously unable to keep up then the pack must go ahead, but it is good policy to try a little encouragement. It works wonders with many runners.

Training during the final weeks should consist of a judicious mixture of fast and slow work. Do the slow work to warm up and follow with striding and sprinting to develop stamina and speed. If a stop-watch is available, time trials should be run over set distances to assist in the judgment of pace. Concentrate on form, relaxation and co-ordination of limbs, and continue to do body-building exercises. It is encouraging to find that the attendances at training have improved. The season is now well advanced and the faster work will find the weak spots in those who have not been doing any preparation. The Invercargill Club is to run its first race of the season tomorrow afternoon, when the club steeplechase will be held. There should be a strong field in this event and with many of the new season’s juniors performing so well, it would be unsafe to speculate as to the result. Among the seniors, J. R. Rubber is probably first choice, but no doubt he will be scratch man and whether he can repeat his performance of winning this race last season remains to be seen.

J. Metcalfe and H. Walker have been training hard and their chances must be good. W. Boachier has been heading the list of juniors along with A. McKenzie, and these lads are both keen and capable harriers. Harriers are asked to observe that the notes on their activities will in future appear in the “Diary of Sport” on Friday mornings.