Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING 47 twenty miles, and again the month's work is ended off with a time-trial. The final month's preparation is from seven to fifteen miles principally, with three longer runs at regular intervals. The month concludes with the race itself, for two or three days before which the athlete confines himself to good brisk walks. In running a Marathon race it is important that the athlete start off at a moderate pace, gradually letting his limbs and his blood warm up to the work. It may be remembered that the English competitors in the 1908 Olympic Games Marathon Race threw away their. chances by starting at too great a pace, whereby their energies were taxed too soon ; and, moreover, if a man gets into his running bit by bit, he will find that he can maintain greater control of his limbs and body. Throughout the race the body carriage is fairly erect, with the arms swinging loosely at the sides in a perfectly natural way. The feet should strike the ground directly under the body, with the knees slightly bent to absorb the shock, which will be far greater and will travel right through the body if the leg is thrust out straight and the foot allowed to strike the ground with the knee braced back. It is important throughout the race to change the striding, and occasionally raise the knees to bring different sets of muscles into play for rest purposes. The reader will remember that in the short-distance runs the athlete has been directed to concentrate all his thoughts on the race ; but with Marathon and cross-country running he should not do so all the time. The continual thinking about the ultimate