Athletics

74 ATHLETICS. having to call into play the staying power which would have been required in the last quarter milein a mile race. The half-milerscan sometimes staythree-quarters of a mile, but it is more often the miler whotries the shorterdistance, than the half-miler who tries the longer, and with more success. The Mile. —Intraining for a mile, the object is, firstly, to be able to last the full distance, and secondly, when able to last all the way to gradually increase the pace throughout, being careful to keep it as uniformas possible, which may be done by having a timekeeper to tell the times of the different laps. By this you get to know your own capabilities, and a trial or two may be started, but ought not to be completed if likely to put a strain on the competitor. As good away as any is to run several quick half miles and slow three-quarter miles alternately, only running every other day. Walking exercise is strongly recommended for strengthening the leg muscles, without overtiring oroverstraining the competitor. I found that running a whole mile twice only before the day was sufficient. But saying this reminds me that most books on training speak as if " the day" only came once, whereas it is more usual than not, that when a man once gets fit he runs a race almost every Saturdayfor a month or two. In these cases,if a man determines, ashe ought to, to always run his best, each race will be the necessary trial spin for the next, so that his work during the week ought to be fairly light. For a mile, he might run a quick 600 yards on the Tuesday, and a quick 1000 yards on the Thursday, doingonly slow work or walking theother days. A Good Dodge. —There is one rule which holds good in every race longer thanquarter of a mile, which is: When you want to pass a man, reserveyourself for a few strides,