ATHLETES AND THEIR TRAINING.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 994, 7 February 1883, Page 4

ATHLETES AND THEIR TRAINING.

Some very sensible advice has recently been offered to athletics in prize essays by members of the London Athletiq G t lub.; They are published by Messrs -Simpkin and Mar- ; shall. The first essay is by a famous runner, whose style—may we be permitted to .say ? is better on a running path than in English prose. In the construction of the sentences it is best not to take the aquatic advice, and “ keep it long.” “He who runs may read,” but he who 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 unwholesome training are probably over. The ancient ideas of training seem to have come down from Greek times; when he who could eat most beef was regarded as probably the best man. Our athletic essayist has learned the truth, neglecled of-old,, that different constitutions need different of diet, and different training in every way. The old rule was to drink as little as would sustain life; when "Tom Brown ”, was at Oxford he used to look with longing at his water-jug, but was too conscientious to taste the forbidden liquid* The essayist is above these venerable prejudices. A man should drink chiefly at meals, he should not begin, like Doorm, in the “ Idylls of the King,” with a big drink, and should altogether be careful and temperate. Raw Beefsteaks are no longer essential to athletic salvation, and the essayist wisely says that a man should not force himself for conscientious reasons to eat what is distasteful to him. By being thus,temperate it is pointed out that a man escapes the temptation “to go out of training ” with a violent rush. Wild and incredible stories are told of the excesses of rowing men when they went, not out of training, but out of all regard to the moral law with impetuous vigour. Men should not rush into training any more than out of it on a sadden. A prudent athlete will first ask his doctor whether he is fit to attempt the task he wishes to undertake. It is an error, though an honourable and patriotic one, for a man to run three miles when he is quite out of health, merely because his University can provide no one else who has much chance of winning, ,-Ttie 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 hot take the advice even of a swift-footed essayist. This authority tells them that "even the mythical ostrich ” —the foolish bird—" is really incapable ” of neglecting the warning of his medical man. The ostrich has a great turn of speed, but we do not know whether it is admired for its performances over a long distance. So indulgent is our essayist that if a man cannot sleep for want of it, he will cvbn permit “ a moderate pipe ” for “ that tobacco has its virtues, no reflecting person will deny.” Alas i so many persons are unreflecting, since King James wrote his ‘ c Counterblast ”to tobacco. As to practice in running our essayist recommends . the athlete to begin with plenty of walking, say fifteen or twenty miles on a hard, high road at a brisk pace. " Three weeks or amonthso spent will promote a healthy tone of the body and lay a foundation of muscle.” Fortunate are those who can afford thus to spend a month in securing health and muscles. Many “ trials ” of a man’s utmost speed against lime should of course be avoided, as no one can stand them. We end with a piece of practical lore well knora 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 the first off but to be first running at top speed—and “ to run best pace from end to end.” When pothunting and over exertion are avoided, athletic sports are really very useful parts of modem physical education. —Daily News.