Athletic Training

CHAPTER V MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNING THERE are two events which properly be– long to this classification, the quarter and half mile runs. They combine both the sprints and the longer distances, in that they necessitate certain of their requirements for success in each. To be a good quarter-mile or half-mile runner the candidate must pos– sess some of the sprinter's speed and the dis– tance man's endurance. Of the two a good sprint is perhaps the more valuable to the quarter-miler, whose event is more like one sustained sprint every yard of the way. Because of the great popularity of relay racing, nearly every athlete with any running ability at all takes a "fling" at the quarter– mile at some time in his career. The fact that four men get a chance on the relay team makes it possible to try out many more can- 45