Athletics (British Sports Library)

HURDLING 89 lacks the form that he has shown before, or his movements lack cohesion, the probability is that he is afflicted by mental staleness and needs a rest. In designing a man's work for the 440 Yards Hurdles the type of athlete must be taken. strictly into consideration and the training schedule designed for his individual needs. Hurdlers at this distance are usually of two distinct types-the real quarter-miler who, knowing his speed, fancies that he can wi~ his race by very fast work over the alternating 40 yards between hurdles, and the other type supplied by the athlete with a real aptitude for hurdling, who counts upon his quic;:k clearance ability and is over~inclined to conserve his energies between one hurdle and the next. The latter type, particularly if he be strong and quite reason– ably fast, will do one of two things -either he will slouch over his hurdles or take them .with an exaggerated quiclmess, but in either event the result will be the same-namely, an ill-judged approach and a hesitating take-of£. In this respect the novice's difficulty is not so hard of solution as might be expected. The first-rate quarter-miler has got to acquire good hurdle clearance, the natural hurdler must build up stamina, and both must acquire striding technique. The former can sacrifice something of his pace in favour of a set number of strides between flights ; the latter must get his