Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE QUARTER-MILE AND 400 METRES thing may always be held in hand for the finish, or to reduce their running to something below sprinting speed at some stage of the race. He must decide for himself at which stage of the race a man should settle down to a free and regular stride, with full relaxation and easy breathing. None the less during this coast the runner should ~rop but little, if anything, below his optimum speed. The sprinter type of quarter-miler should usually go flat out at the start, for a distance varying from 75 to 100 yds., before changing his action to a long, swinging stride, which will produce a coast slightly under a sprint, in which he will show a looser arm action. Thus he will carry through the back stretch with but little effort, and, after passing the goo yds. mark, can gradually increase his speed. Another 50 yds. farther on he can begin to gather himself together for the finishing burst: this must be done before fatigue sets in. By these means the runner can conserve his energy and come into the home stretch fully prepared for the final burst of speed, which should bring him to the winning-post just about all-in. The half-miler type of quarter-miler has usually more-endurance and strength than actual speed, and for this type of man the coach must plan the race accordingly. It will not do for such a runner to come out of his holes and hold maximum sprinting speed over the first 100 yds. of the race. It is far better for such a man to conserve his energy for the finish. The half-miler type of quarter-miler should try to hold his distribution of energy evenly throughout the whole of the race, saving up his energy for the finish. With the quarter-mile nowadays almost invariably run in lanes, the old suggestion as to fighting for position on the pole no longer obtain-s, but the coach should none the less teach his athletes to sprint for position at the beginning of the race, and, after they have secured the position, in relation to the positions of their rivals in the other lanes, to relax as much as possible without getting left behind. They must be taught not to slow up too much in the middle of the race, and to run with a perfectly even stride and· good pace judgment over the whole journey. Although the race is run in lanes, the coach should still teach his athletes that they must never try to take command on a curve. It is easier to put on pace in a straight stretch of track. He must also warn them against accepting every challenge that is levelled at them; but, at 215 li I ! . ' l r I I