Athletics (British Sports Library)

THE HALF MILE 103 cut arm punch action, both of which methods bring into play an entirely new set of muscles. In either case the athlete who has been running on the rear part of the sole of his foot now comes as high up on to his toes as possible, while assuming a more forward body angle. Sketch 2 shows excellent half-mile form during the middle stages of the race. Sprint finish is shown in the sketches illustrating Chapter II. Note the difference. For the grown man, who has not the schoolboy's advantage of all-round participation in games, a three months' training schedule is necessary. But / the schoolboy, with only one month to spare, must get straight down to the question of gaining pace judgment. He should begin by running 440 and 660 yards at about the pace he thinks he can hold for the half mile, and should aim at a 60-second quarter mile to start with; that will give him 660 yards in about l minute 35 seconds, both distances tried out at separate intervals. As soon as the runner feels his power increasing he can work out at rather longer distances. Let us suppose that he has been able to devote six weeks to his training, and that two weeks have been occupied in the work just indicated; then he can occupy the final month on a schedule of his own based upon the following suggestions :