Athletics (British Sports Library)

FOR PARENTS AND SCHOOLMASTERS 25 Cross-country running if properly managed and indulged in moderately is one of the most health– ful and best body and stamina-building exercises imaginable, as well as being a useful basis for every form of sport. It is one, moreover, which does not impair the track runners' speed, although the stride of the cross-country runner is both shorter and looser than that of the middle distance track runner. For schoolboys under eighteen years of age paper-chases, which give them a chance to slow down when necessary, are better than races; but even these should be practised sparingly and should never be more than three miles in length. Boys under sixteen should confine their cross-country work to walks and easy jog-trot runs. In this connection boys should work in graduated groups, under experienced pace-makers, whose duty it is to see that their charges do jog, and neither race nor run themselves to a standstill. The time to practise cross-country running is in the late autumn, winter, and early spring. Runs should be cancelled on very cold days, and at all times the athlete should be properly dressed. He should wear a long-sleeved, high-necked sweater, running trunks reaching down to his ankles, socks and comfortable shoes. If running against the wind extra protection is needed for the chest, and