Athletics of To-Day 1929

The Low Hurdles 1 59 striding and hurdling form are still fully as important as speed. There are two types of athletes usually seen in the 440 yards hurdles event-(r) The real sprinting quarter milers, who try to make their time on the ground up to and between the hurdles and on the run-in, and (z) the real hurdlers, who economize time and conserve energy in effecting hurdle clearance. Each type must work to acquire the good qualities of the other. The hurdler type has, I think, the advantage, because one cannot take a 3 ft. obstacle in the stride without hurdling form with the same facility that a 30 ins. obstacle may be negotiated. The question of striding provides a big problem. Each man must solve it for himself in such a way that he gains regularity. Individuals vary, and 15, 17 and 19 strides between hurdles represent their different standards. Very few men, however, can hold to a set stride throughout a 440 yards hurdle race. I think, therefore, it is best to standardize the approach run, hold the set stride for three or four flights, then drop to a natural stride, clipping or lengthening the leg reach to suit the take-off, and try to get back to the set stride for the last two or three flights. The 440 yards low hurdler must train his eye to estimate the right take-off spot when he is 12 or 15 yards from the hurdle, so that he can adjust his stride; otherwise he must make his stride adjustment when he is right on top of the fence, and he will falter and shuffle. To develop the full advantage of the natural stride method practise running at one hurdle from varying distances and learn to adjust the last five or six strides so that you will have no difficulty in effecting a proper clearance. There is no doubt that the time must come when men will maintain exactly the same number of strides between hurdles, but the novice who aims at this ideal too early, if he does not actually fall, will find his speed dwindling away over the last two or three flights. The goal to be aimed at for the furlong low hurdles race is to take ro strides to the first hurdle, clear it in the eleventh stride, and take 7 strides between flights, going over on the eighth