TOO FIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 14

TOO FIT

Stanley Doust on Tennis Training

RETIREMENT QUESTION The tragic and sudden death of Colonel H. G. Mayes, who was acknowledged to be the fittest man who ever played lawn tennis, makes one wonder whether it is wise to be permanently in such excellent physical condition as he undoubtedly was, writes Stanley N. Doust. the exlawn tennis international, in an English newspaper. Mayes was in his 49th year, and 1 imagine that he cultivated the muscular side and forgot that Ins arteries were every day becoming harder. Perhaps some medical man will correct my statement, but, from a layman’s point of view, when a man reaches 40 his best athletic days are over and he should relax training’ so as not to put further strain on the heart. Mayes did not do this. He could go on to a lawn tennis court and outlast men 25 and more years his junior. He gloried in his own fitness and we all envied him. RiCH DIET NEEDED But lie denied himself much in the way of food and drink and was constantly calling upon his own vitality to the detriment of his heart. Consequently when he was attacked by illness his end was sudden, as it is with so many athletes. I remember going to a specialist in Harley Street some years ago and the subject of over-training was thoroughly gone into. I had been dieting and had given up smoking and was a total abstainer. All this time I was playing in lawn tennis tournaments week in and week out. The specialist told me that what 1 needed was plenty of rich things to eat and good wine to drink. “You are overtrained,” he said, "and in all athletic games like lawn tennis it is necessary to have something at dinner that can be corrected by the exercise you are to take next day.” From what i know of Alayes he would eschew such advice. Athletes are not long livers. Seldom does one hear of an athlete living to SO. Is it because tlieir hearts have had so much to do during their youth? The Doherty brothers, R. Laurentz, to name but three lawn tennis players, passed away at a comparatively early age. A. W. Gore, who died recently, was 61 and was perfectly fit two years ago. In other realms of sport the same thing happens. It all boils down to the question whether it is better to retire from strenuous games earlier in life and whether in the heyday of life we prepare ourselves properly for the sport we undertake.