The Modern Method of Training for Running, Walking, Rowing & Boxing

38 PEDESTEIANISM, and toe, lie is not talcingtLe requiredsuccession of stops,but is infringing the great and prin­ cipal one, of onefoot being continuallyon the ground. The same fault will be brought onby the pedestrian leaning forward with his body, and thereby leaning his weight on the front foot, which,when any great pace is intended, or the performer begins to be fatigued,first mergesinto a very short stride and then into a most undignified trot. The objectofthe present work, however, is not to show how faults are to be committed, but how they are to be re­ medied and avoided. There may be a few professionalpedestrians—happily,onlya few— whocare not howthey may come in first in a match, and get the money; but they are now fast dying out—not fromage, but from being stoppedat their little game by an honest and resolutereferee, and by the loud expressionsot public opinion,whichinvariably has taken the part of the fair walker. There is no finersight among the long catalogue of British sports, more exhilarating and amusing to the true sportsman,than to see a walking-match carried out to the strict letter of the meaning, each moving with the grandest action of which the human frame is capable,at a pace which the feebleframe and mind is totally unable to com­ prehend,and must be witnessed to be believed. To be a good and fair walker,according to the recognized rule among the modern school,the attitude should be upright, or nearly so, with the shoulderswell back and the arms, when in TRAINING PEACTICE, TAIK WALKING, ETC. 39 motion,held well up in a bent position,and at everystride swing with the movement of the legs,well acrossthe chest,whichshould be well thrownout. The loins shouldbe slack,to give plenty of freedom to the hips, and the leg per­ fectlystraight, thrownout from the hip boldly, directly in front of the body, and allowed to reachthe ground with the heel being decidedly the first portion of the foot to meet it. The movement of the arms, as above directed,will keep the balance of the body, and bring the other leg fromthe ground,when, the samecon­ duct being pursued,the tyro will have accom­ plishedthe principaland most difficult portion of his rudiments. This will in a very short time become natural to him, and the difficulty willbe the infringementof the correctmanner. The novicehaving learned how to walk, and being matched, requires training, which must be under the same rules as have beenlaid down in the previous chapter; with the difference, however,that his sweats must be taken at his best walking-pace, the trot by all means being totally barred. A continued perseverance in the practice of this rule willenable the pedes­ trian to persevere,notwithstandingall the shin- aches,stitches, and other pains attendant on the proper training for a walking-match,and which every man must undergo before he can be considered worthy of being looked upon as a fast and fair walker. The tyro must not be discouraged with his first feeble and uncertain attempts, if 'iiey should not come up to hia