A CHAMPION ATHLETE'S OPINIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8087, 12 August 1904, Page 1

A CHAMPION ATHLETE'S OPINIONS.

TRAINING METHODS

In the course of an article in the American magazine "Physical Culture" Arthur A. Duffy, the holder of a \rorld/s record — 9 3-ssec for lOOyde— -tells how he trained, and compares English with American athletes, and therefrom I make; the following extracts: — Why does not England produce faster men for the short distances? I t-hjnk that one reason lies in the methods of training employed. Tn America-, training does not mean ihard, exhaustive muscular work so much as judicious diet, absolute care of the general health, and especially the nervous system, and work suited to the individual needs, instead of iron-bound rules of exercise intended to- suit all needs. While gratifying an idea t.'hat I would like to study medicine, I learned some things that were of value to me in training. One of these things was that it is the nervous system and its control over the muscles that counts in sprinting, and not the size nor hardiness of a man's muscles. . . • There are several reason.? for the superiority of tine English runners in the longer -distances, but I am of opinion that, as a nation, temperament has much to do' with it. What the Americans accomplish they accomplish in a hurry. Not so the Englishman- He holds to the principle that hurry begets worry, omd that time and perseverance are all that are necessary in order to win success in every walk-^-or run — of life. Another factor, "and one not to be despised, is that our American runners pay much more attention to style in running than do the English. The good American runner is usually tlhe picture of grace when in motion, but there is undoubtedly a loss of energy in keeping this graceful pose through a> mile or twomile race. ... I have been ask«d often what method of training I use, and have been urged to reveal the "secret " of such success as I lhave had in running, but I know no secret. I do not believe ihafc my method of training differs in any very important feature from that of other good runners. There is no doubt that while training the most important thing is a m-an's personal 'habits. Regular sleep, avoidance ot drugs, alcohol and tobacco in any form, and, in a. word, the exclusion of even the mildest form of dissipation is a great requisite for getting into form. | Then comes the diet. A happy medium should be struck between vegetable and animal food, and all foods over-rich in starch and sugar should be tabooed, as well as others that do not agree with the individual's, .digestion, . no iftatter what they "maf'be^ i' AS^i '-exercise I ehotiKf 1 say, first of all develop the start, learn to start properly with the least possible, effort, and a great deal has been accomplished. After that comes the development of the stride, and intelligent work will accomplish wonders in this direction. Breathing exercises must not bo neglected, and the greatest danger to all beginners is tiring the muscles' by overwork, which must be avoided. Last, 'but by no means least, i* the importance of th» bath and massage. Nothing restores fatigued muscles to their normal condition so effectively as does massage, and a good " rubber" is a treasure to the amat«ur athlete. Training, if properly conducted, should not be an ordeal to be feared, but a process that brings out all that is best in the physical man and which stores up a reserv* fore© of- vigour that is moro or less completely inder the control of the one that- trains faithfully and intelligently. It is the control of vigour that distinguishes the properly-trained man from the over trained one. The man that is < overtrained expends his • vigour and vitality rashly ; it ie not absolutely under his control, and he uses up mor« energy to make his muscles respond than is necessary. The result is that he fatigues rapidly, while the carefully -trained man can economic© on strength, holding it completely under his command, and liberate his reserve store for the final spurt that counts for victory. Science is but the -highest form of commonsense, and the man who would train scientifically must, first of all, train sensibly.