Bredin on Running & Training

72 RUNNING AND TRAINING. work-perhaps two weeks might be a wiser length of time to allow. A brief reference to training on roads rnay be useful to men who wish to compete in athletic sports whilst residing in the country, and at some considerable distance from a track. Running on an ordinary level road is really to be preferred to practising on grass, unless the latter is well rolled and kept short, and the weather proves dry. It is possible to train on cinders and race well over a grass course, but the reverse frequently does not hold good, unless the distances to be run are short ones. This is due to the fact that the jarring caused to the feet and legs by their coming vigorously into contact with the comparatively hard surface of a cinder-path has not been experienced from the running practised on turf. For instance, on com– peting in the final after a preliminary heat of a quarter, under the latter circumstances, a few yards will be lost by most athletes owing to stiffness of the muscles, although they may be fairly fit, and therefore have long passed that period of time during which slight aches and pains could reasonably be expected. Wear– ing flannel trousers, a shirt of like rna terial, and an ordinary short coat, the feet clad in thin gymnasium shoes-except in very wet weather, when cross-country or running shoes with their spikes filed rather closely off will be necessary-no athlete who really wishes to get fit need fear the result ; and the pleasant contrast and feeling of lightness when such an apparel is ex– changed for that of ordinary running costume seems to bestow additional fleetness. If the running practised be solely with a view to compete in sprint races, a