Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

46 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS necessity arise, he may get himself reasonably fit for competition in anything beyond three months. Perhaps, considering the heavy strain that training is to most men, it would be as well to " split the difference," and put the training down at, say, five months, so that the work of preparation may be gone about quite gradually. The first two months may be employed in light gymnastics to harden up the general condition of the body; especially is the athlete referred to . the exer– cises to be found at the end of the book for building up the feet, ankles, and legs. In addition to the indoor exercises, a good deal of striding practice should be taken, letting_the legs run loosely with a fairly long stride, and varying it by quick, short steps. ~' This is of the utmost importance,'·as will be realised. In a race of twenty-six or twenty-seven miles any way of running which tends to rest the runner is to be studied carefully. Throughout the whole five or six months the athlete only runs on three days a week. On other days he takes good brisk walks of several hours' duration at a steady pace, but with varied striding. The runs during the first month are from one mile to twelve miles, but the latter distance is only travelled once or twice. In the second month the distance varies from three C> to seven miles, and at the end of the third month the athlete runs in time-trial at the race distance. His trainer can now observe what progress is being made by his charge. In the fourth month one or two fairly short runs are taken at judicious intervals to rest the athlete if it is needed, but the main work is between ten and