Bredin on Running & Training

SPRINTING. 5 runs through some forty or fifty yards, perfectly satisfied with that form of practice, which is, in reality, of little benefit. The whole art of fast sprinting lies in being able to get into one's running in the shortest possible space of time. This can only be acquired by constantly practising starts from a stationary position at the report of a pistol, accompanied by at least one other runner. It will be found impossible to fully extend oneself when running alone at short distances ; there is always a little extra effort, that only the determination to catch up to another man, or prevent his reaching you, can bring into use, no doubt due to the power of mind over muscle. Without a fair amount of this pistol practice the sprinter will find that, in addition to getting slowly into his running, he will be liable to finish poorly, owing to his having been compelled to unusually exert himself during the first part of the race, to keep his place in a level, or gain on the leading men in a handicapped one. If four or five sprinters can arrange to practise together, so much the better. After a few starts they can so handicap themselves as to reach the tape almost simultaneously. If the track is an ordinary one of four laps to the mile, it is advisable, the worsted being broken, to gradually slacken down into a 'valk, and continue at the latter pace once round until the original starting place is reached, which rnay occupy about three minutes, and by this means allow the breath to be fully recovered before undertaking the next burst. After three, or four at the most, of these short sprints, which can be restricted to fifty yards in length, about 150 yards might terminate the track