Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE HALF-MILE AND Boo METRES leaders, he will have small opposition, in all probability, from the longer-distance type of half-miler, who relies mainly upon his stamina. In order that he may combat the strategy of the sprinter type of half-miler the man who relies upon his stamina to see him through should be taught .a different method of running the distance. His plan should be to start fast and hold his optimum speed for at least the initial 66o yds. At this point he may have the field beaten, but if his competitors are as good as himself he may then have to call upon the last ounce of his reserve of energy to carry right on at top speed through the final furlong. The coach should point out to the enduring type of half-miler that the plan outlined in the preceding paragraph is probably the only one which will enable him to outdistance the sprinting type of half-miler. If a man carries on for 66o yds. at practically optimum speed he should be able to run the sprinter type clean off his legs, or so to outdistance him that he cannot, with his final burst of speed, make up the ground he has lost through not keeping close to the man who can hold his speed over the first three-quarters of the race. This method postulates that the middle-class half-miler will abide by the pre-Hampson theory that the first quarter-mile of a half-mile race should be run 3 secs. faster than the final quarter-mile. For the real cracks, however, Hampson set a new fashion when he endeavoured successfully to run both quarter– miles of a half-mile race in as nearly as possible the same time. Going a little more deeply into the strategy of half-miling, one might suggest that the first 300 yds. of the race should be run as if one were setting out to race only a quarter of a mile, the pace, of course, being slightly slower. For the next 140 yds. of the first lap and for the first 150 yds. of the second lap the runner should maintain his optimum speed, but must be taught to run with full relaxation. At this stage of the race the athlete should be always within about half a dozen yards of his opponents. He will then be in a position to gather his energy for the final sprint to the winning– post. The coach will find that he needs to teach different athletes different styles of finishing. The strategy to be employed in the final 300 yds. of a half-mile race is all-important. One type of athlete -will do well if he _secures the lead 200 yds. from home, provided he has the right temperament for running in the lead without worrying. Such a man should be taught to take the first 231