Athletics and Football (extract)

128 ATHLETICS howfast one is travelling; the walker practising should do at least a mile everyday at top speed, and, as in training for long­ distance races, at a uniform rate of speed, and moreoverat the fastest of whichhe is capable. A week'straining fora three-mile race would probably be something such as this; On the first day 2 miles,on the second mile, on the third 2 miles, on the fourth 3 miles, on the fifth 1 mile, on the sixth 2 miles, and for a seven-mile race double these distances. A thorough good rubbing after each day's exerciseis almost indispensable, as there is nothing like fast walking to bring out aches and pains all over the body, and especially down the shin-bones. The walker is also liable to blisters and sprains, more perhaps even than the long-distance runners; but of the treatment of these we shall have to speak later. In the early days of the athletic movement a seven-mile race was considered the proper test of a man's ability in this branch of sport, and a seven-mile race was the walkingevent included in the original championship programme. At the present day the public find an hour's walkingrace rather a slow event to watch, and in most club meetings shorter races of three or two miles, and occasionally of one mile, are more usual. The result is that there has recently been some con­ siderable agitation in favourof the championship event being reduced to something less than seven miles,or for the inclusion of a second walkingrace for a shorter distance in the champion­ ship programme. At the American championship meeting there are three walking races, at the Irish and Scotch cham­ pionship there is only one race, at three miles,while in Canada the same distance determines the title of champion walker for the year. We think, however, that the Amateur Athletic Association will be right in retaining their present cham­ pionship programme unaltered in regard to the walkingrace. There are already plenty of temptations towards unfair walk­ ing and the production of a vicious style of progression,and with a shorter championship race the temptations will be increased. At present the one satisfactory thing about the