Modern Athletics 1868

CHAPTEE VII. RUNNING. THIS branch of pedestrianism may be appropriately di­ vided into three heads:—viz., "Sprint* running," which includes all distances, from 100 up to 400 yardsme; dium distances, from aquarter tothree quarters oaf mile; and lastly, long distances, fromone mile and upwards. S-ECTION I.—SPRINT EUNNING. Short distancesare in voguewith the majority ofrun­ ners, as they require a less severe and arduous prepara­ tion than longraces. At the commencement of work, a man should begin running about a quarterof a mile in order to bring the necessary musclesinto play. In run­ ning, the leaps are taken from toe to toe, as by this means a longer stride is obtained. The chief muscles used in short distance runningare those of the front partof the thigh, which bringthe legs forward at each stride.After the pedestrian has been sweated sufficiently, and finds that he can run with comfort to himself and withoutun­ due strain on any of the muscles, he should quicken his pace, commencing by practising starts, andgradually in­ creasing the distance atop speed up to that ofthe race itself. In sprinting, half the battle is in starting well, and this thereforeshould be practised till a man is apro­ ficient thereat. A great mistake is often made in keeping the feet too far apart, as by so doing the pedestrian * The technicawl ord "sprint" is iunse in thevulgar tongue of Northamptonshire, where itmeans "lively." It is probably allied to "springe," naoose which, fastened to an elastic stick, catches witha spring or jerk; also to "springal," anctive young man; and to "spring" itself, in its manifoldmeaning of elastic force, whether in the season of the year,or in the efforts of the body,or in the sources ofwater, or iathe young shoots of plants.