Athletics (British Sports Library)

1 1 1 46 ATHLETICS month of hardening-out training referred to above. In all probability the third month of nervous tension would be too much for them, and in any case the youngster who finds a month at his dis– posal, after the football season, in which to prepare for the sports is mighty lucky ; · therefore he or his coach must do the best to fit the preparation into that period. It would be the easiest thing in the world to draw up a three or five months' training schedule upon which the adult athlete might base his own scheme of preparation with but few variations; but where schoolboys and young undergraduates, particularly at the provincial universities, are concerned, the problem presents infinitely greater difficulties. Most boys, according to my experience, are bad starters and bad finishers. As I have already said, the middle of the race usually looks very well after itself. Before coming to the question of starting, I would suggest to boys, and to those entrusted with their athletic education, the wisdom of building up the necessary staying power to hold the full speed over the entire distance aimed at. With this object in view, I would point out the value of runs taken on the roads in ordinary clothing and ordinary shoes- runs commencing with 250 yards and