Athletics of To-Day 1929

166 Athletics of To-day mistake of dropping into the deep water at the foot of the hedge, and, if my memory serves me, let himself in for a first– class ducking. TRAINING The Steeplechase is often treated by both spectators and contestants as something of a joke. In reality it is a strenuous event, for which long, hard and serious training is required. Cross-country work in the winter is the best preliminary preparation; without this it will take the best part of three months' training to bring a man to competition condition. Long walks, with a quarter (increased to a half) mile trot in each mile, provide the work for the first month. But, in addition, hurclling at half-speed, with concentration on running at the hurdles from varying distances, should be practised. In training for a 2 miles Ste plechase it is necessary to run 3t to 5 miles twice a week, and the athlete must begin to build up his finishing sp ed, working up from 220 to 66o yards. The number of flights in the hurdling practice should b increased. Body-building and breathing x rei es and skipping should be included in the training schedule. If the distance aimed at is the Public Schools three-quarter mile ev nt, halve the distances given in the preceding para– graph, except in the case of the finishing sprint. Reduce the distance work in the third month, working from half a mile for speed to three mil s for endurance. Hurdle practice should be on two days a w ek and running on three days. Keep up the hurdling exercises and work at the water jump. Time trials may be run on the first and s cond aturdays of the third month. This schedule will serve also for those preparing for the Public Schools Championship. Always rest on Friday and take no more exercise than an easy stroll after lunch on Sundays. Finish off your training on the Tu sday or Wednesday preceding the race for which the preparation has been undertaken.