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

40 PEDESTE.IA.NISM, cnicle anticipations, but bear in mind that al- tbougb the accomplished pedestriangoes through his apportioned task with great apparent ease, he has gone through the rudiments,and that nothing but great practice has enabled him to perform the apparent impossibilities which are successfullyovercome almost daily. Therefore the young walker must take for his motto, " Perseverance,"and act up to the same by continual practice. The man training for a match should walk some portion of his distance, if weather permits, daily, in his walking-dress,which should consist of a light clasticshirt, short drawers,and light Oxonian shoes. On starting, he must go off - at his very, very best pace,and continue it for at leastthree hundred yards or a quarter of a mile, bywhich time he willhave begunto blowveryfreely,and then getting into a good,long, regular stride, his principal aim must be to keep his legswell : n advanceofhis body. The rule ofgetting away fast in trials should oeinvariablycarried out; it prepares the man for a sharp tussle with his opponent for the lead, and will hinder him being taken off his legs in the match. When tired he can also ease his exertions; but if he is in the habit of going off at a steady gait, in the generality of instances he is virtually defeated in a match beforehe has commenced racing. Moreoverhe must, when undergoing distress from the pace he has been doing,never by any chance cease his resolute and ding-dong action; for distress, TEAINING PEACTICE, FAIR WALKING, ETC. 41 if once given way to by easing,will of course leave the sufferer, but at the same time all speed has also departed,and not for a short space of time either, but sufficiently long for the gamerman, who wouldnot succumb to the inevitableresult of continuedsevereexertion,to btain such an advantage as would be irre­ coverable,as well as to conquer the aches and pains which invariably leave the well-trained pedestrianwhen the circulationand respiration become equalized—"secondwind" it is better knownby and recognized as, amongstthe fancy. After this happy and enviable stage of affairs has been reachedthe work becomesmechanical, and the pedestrianfrom time to timeis enabled to put on spurts and dashes that would astonish himself at any other time when not up to thorough concert pitch. The recovery from these electrifyingdashes is almost instantane­ ous, and the pedestriankeepson his satisfactory career until sheerfatigue graduallydiminishes his speed,although none of the previous aches and pains are present. The trainer must not forget the previously-mentioned rule ofstopping the man when good time is not the result of his best and hardest exertions,as that bad time proves unerringly that something must be amiss which requires looking to thoroughly. As well might the engineer of a locomotive, on findingout that someof the internal works of his engine were out of gear, put on all his eteamand then wonder at the machinerv being