Athletics (British Sports Library)

ll4 ATHLETICS of pace. Lawson Robertson, the present American Olympic coach, lays it down that " the Mile de– mands the essence of speed and stamina, with the distance demanding, if it is to be properly run, .a condition which has no weak points." He further contends that stamina is the thing to be aimed at in early training, and says that throughout the training the athlete should "keep everlastingly at the pace idea." · The runner must learn to cover the different sections of the race according to his own ability. In competition he must never allow his opponents to run his race for him. Statistics and the modern school of coaches agree that the first quarter of a mile is invariably the fastest, and that the third quarter is the one in which the athlete gets his gruelling; if over this third quarter mile he can hold a pace approxi– mating to his other lap times, he will usually find his pluck rewarded by a final quarter mile which takes care of itself. On the question of style the athlete must avoid the high pick-up of the sprinter, and allow his feet to pass close to the ground (see sketches illustrating, Chapter V). He must stride evenly and seldom vary his length. He must have sprinting ability and develop the power to respond instantly to a sudden rush on the part of an opponent. A man