Athletics

ATHLETICS. our ordinaryclothes resumed My friend, satisfied with his first venture, bidsme good-bye, but not before I advisehim to rest, before hisnext meal, tillhe feels more settled, when his food will do him much more good than if taken imme­ diately afterviolent orexhausting exertion. Now a word or two to the novice in his first handicap. He would begiven a medium starto commence with.If he is not confident ofhis judgment, oneor more nearhis mark should be pointed out as "good old stagers," i .e. reliable runners, tomake his running with during the early part of the race,for it is here that the novice generally goes wrong, starting either too fast or too slow. When he feels set, he can let himself go if he finds he has been running well within his powers. After racing in this way once or twice he will be able tojudge his pace without anydifficulty. As regards style,I think a good knee action—thatis, the knee broughtwell up and forward—thebest for runningover uneven grounds, thoughone should never make a radical alteration in his natural style of moving. The arms are best kepthanging atthe sides, andnot swinging across the chest. This is, I think, well worth cultivating, for those that runthus certainly seem to move the easiest. As regards an amateur's training the main points are : Rise at about seven, have a cold bath andgrooming with rough towel before breakfast, and eat plain nourishing food, av i ing soups, pastries,and anything indigestible. Tea drinkingis very bad for some. Cocoa I find better than tea in my own case. Smoking is fatal to the wind, and the man in training must learn to pass the public-house withoutdrop­ ping in for a throat gargle. Hot, stuffyrooms should be avoided, andfresh air taken at every opportunity. Be care­ ful not to run too soon either beforeor after meals. Three spins of about fivemiles each per week will keep most men