TRAINING HINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 11

TRAINING HINTS

This is the first of a series of articles specially written for THE SUN by Mr. C. 11. Taylor, of Christchurch, former Australasian ?nicUile distance champion. Recognised as one of the great stylists of his day. Air. Taylor's views should prove not only interesting, but instructive to athletes, especially the younger brigade.

By C. H TAYLOR, JUN. The first thing an athlete should do before starting training is to undergo a medical examination, so that he will be certain that his lungs, heart and digestive organs are in normal condition. Then the system should be thoroughly cleansed with some simple medicine. It should be remembered always that if a man trains carefully he can train harder without the danger of bad results, and a course of weekly walks forms an excellent foundation for preliminary training. It assists with the breathing and helps to stretch the muscles gradually as well. The stages through which a runner passes on the track may be summarised as follows: —Start gradually and gently, and work up to a state of complete physical fitness by ever-increas-ing strenuous exercises. The necessity of doing nothing but the gentlest work during the first stages is due to the nature of the muscles of the body. A man’s muscles may be compared with a collection of strands of elastic,