Athletics (British Sports Library)

112 ATHLETICS upon the track to compete. They should also see that the boys under their instruction get plenty of the sort of work which will induce proper finishing sprint ability. Hjertberg, the great Swedish-American trainer, has laid it down that " medium distances make greater demands upon those that run them, and that it should always be remembered that no result promising ultimate great success can be reached after only one or two, or perhaps even three, years' training; but still one can notice an improvement year after year, and this should be the spur to continue training." Michael Murphy believed firmly that the finest training for the mile ·distance comprised a course of cross-country running lasting from the autumn until the approach of spring. He was strongly of the opinion that this work should be done in stout shoes, woollen stockings, elongated "shorts " covering the knees, undershirt, sweater, and cap. In cold weather he insisted upon his charges keeping the mouth covered to prevent bitterly cold air going straight to the lungs. Immediately up.on the conclusion of the run his pupils stripped, practised a few body-building exercises, and then took a shower-bath. Another great feature of Murphy's training method was his insistence at the begirining of the