Athletics of To-Day 1929

Athletics of To-day Try to build up a facility for covering the 20 yards between flights of a furlong race in 7 strides, and, to help to build up this stride-form, accentuate the push off from the ball of the grounded foot at each stride-especially in clearance. Low hurdle races are run in lanes nowadays, each man keep– ing to his own flight of hurdles throughout the race. There is considerable curve to the outer lanes and going round the bends the action of the arm nearest the inside of the track should be cut down, whereas the other arm must have a fuller swing ; and, as further compensation, you should always lean to the inner side of your lane as you round the curves. Ath– letes who hurdle left leg leading have an advantage on a curved course, since the push-off from the right foot helps to throw the hurdler in towards the inner side of his own lane. Standardize your approach run to the first fence. Correc– tions to bring you to the right take-off mark should be made in the first strides out of the holes, and not by lengthening or clipping the stride as you are nearing the hurdle. In training for the Furlong Hurdles work first for endurance and leg strength. These are acquired by starting and sprinting practice, coupled with speed striding runs of 6oo yards. On two afternoons a week these runs should be practised twice, and on two other afternoons in the same week practise full striding runs at roo yards three times. Do the hurdling exercises (s e preceding chapter) and gain speed by 50 and roo yards sprint runs and 120 yards time trials over 2 ft. 6 ins. hurdles. When fit, 440 yards on the fiat should be run once a week. I think the reason that America has produced so great a number of fine quarter-mile hurdlers is to be found in the fact that many a young American who could touch 49 secs. for the distance on the fiat and yet not win a championship, has turned his attention to the 440 yards 3 ft. hurdles as offering better chances of acquiring honours. That quarter-mile hurdlers have exceptional speed is proved by the fact that J ohnny Gibson covered the distance and clear d ro obstacles in 52! secs., while F. M. Taylor, U. .A., is reputed to have run a 47.g, 440 yards on the flat in the British Empire v. U.S.A. Match, rg28. But