ATHLETES AND THEIR TRAINING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3597, 22 January 1883, Page 4

ATHLETES AND THEIR TRAINING.

Somn very sensible advice has recently been offered to athletes in prize essays by members of the London Athletic Club. They are published by Messrs Simpkin and Marshall. The first essay is by a famous runner, AA-hose style—may Aye be permitted to say ? —is better on a running-path than in English prose. In the construction of sentences it is best not to take the aquatic advice and ''keep it long." "He Avho rims mai/ read," but he Avho runs is not always distinguished when it comes to writing. However, if the style of our athletic author leaves a little to be desired, his ideas are excellently sensible, and that is the main thing after all. The days of severe unAvholesome training are probably OA-er. The ancient ideas of training seem to have come doAvn from Greek times, AA-hen he Avho could eat most beef was regarded as probably the best man. Our athletic essayist has learned the truth, neglected of old, that different constitutions need different sorts of diet, and different training in every way. The old rule was to drink as little- as Avould sustain life; when "Tom BrOAvn" Avas at Oxford ho used to look Avith longing at his water-pig, but was too conscientious to taste the forbidden liquid. The essayist is above these venerable prejudices. A man should drink chiefly at meals, he says, should not begin, like'Doorm, in the "Idylls of the King," AAith a big drink, and should altogether be careful and temperate. Rawbeefsteaks are no longer essential to athletic salvation, and the essayist Aviscly says that a man should not force himself for conscientious reasons to eat what is distasteful to Mm. By being thus temperate it is pointed out that a man escapes the temptation "to go out of training" AA-ith a violent rush. Wild and incredible stories are told of the excesses of rowing men AA-hen they went, not only out of training, but out of all regard to the moral IaAV Avith impetuous A'igor. Men should not rush into training any more than out of it on a sudden. A prudent athlete Avill first ask his doctor whether he is fit to attempt the task he wishes to undertake. It is an error, though an honorable and patriotic, one, for a'man to run the three miles Avhen he is quite out of health merely, because his UmVcrsity can pro\-idc no one else avlio has much chance of Avinning. The athletic crown is not worth the sacrifice of health, and perhaps of twenty years of life. But boys do not look so closely at things,| and perhaps may not take the advice even of a swift-footed "essayist. This authority tells them that " even the mythical ostrich " —• that foolish bird—'' is really incapable '' of neglecting the Avarning of his medical man. The ostrich has a great turn of speed, but avc do not knoAV whether ibis admired for its performances OA'er a long distance. So indulgent is our essayist that, if a man cannot sleep for want of it, he Avill eA-en permit " a moderate' pipe ;" for " that tobacco has its virtues no reflecting person Avill deny." Alas ! so many persons arc unreflecting, and have been unreflecting, since King James Avrote his " Counterblast" to tobacco. As to practice in running, our essayst recommends the athlete to begin with plenty of walking, say fifteen or tAventy miles on a hard highroad at a brisk pace. '"Three weeks or a month so spent Anil promote a healthy tone of the body, and lay a foundation of muscle." Fortunate are they avlio can afford thus to spend a month in securing health and muscles. Many "trials" of a man's utmost speed against time should of course bo avoided, as no one can stand them. AYe end Avith a piece of practical lore Avell known to Cambridge runners in the quarter of a mile race. "The alpha and omega of a short race Is to get a good start" —that is, not, to be first off, but to be first running at top speed—and '' to run best pace from end to end." AVhen pothunting and oA'er exertion are aA'oided, athletic sports are really Aery useful parts of modem physical education.—Daily Ncavs.