THE ART OF SPRINTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9673, 11 December 1909, Page 7

THE ART OF SPRINTING.

A FAMOUS RUNNER'S IDttAS.

Reer. Walker, the famous South African amateur sprinter and Olympic winner, had much that was in- ! teresting to say during an interview ,in Engla.id recently regarding his great speed, and how it was acquired and assisted. "During my visit to England this season my style has been a matter of hot controversy between the critics, many prophesying all manner of defeats for me,'' said Walker. "Perhaps, now 1 have won the championship, however, they are inclined to think there is something more than eccentricity in what they termed my exaggerated balance. Now, balance is* altogether a matter of individual style* I have heard Sam Wisdom aay many a time, 'You shuuld never alter a man's style, but always try to improve upon it,' and that is what I claim to have done. That lam faster than I was last year my South African times prove. "Now, picking up the legs quickly is usually recognised as one of the secrets of fast sprinting. Therefore, to me, it is apparent a forward balance naturally necessitates the quick' striding of the legs to preserve the equilibrium. The Australian sprinter Postle is also an exponent of this forwaid style of running, so there is much to commend it, and every sprinter should deliberate on it for himself.

"When this particular style is at first tried, it will be found that the first fifty yards can be run much faster, but after this distance it is com mon to lose all form, and get too far over, with the result the last part of the journey is very slow indeed. This state of affairs I have experienced myself, but I imagine it ia due to the stomach and back muscles not being strong enough to support the body at this angle. "It is strange how few sprinters seem to realise the value of correct arm action; iruny, in fact, seem .o think it is right to fight the air violently with their arms. This is absurd and certainly the most sure way to lose all form and style. There are | some runners I know who seem to have no st>le at all, but simply to fight their way along by sheer physical force, and yet, although by no means in the first class, meet with a certain amount of success in handicap. It has always occurred to me theae men are running out their distance, and should not be running in sprints at all, but by so donig are only tearing t« pieces a gjo i constitution. "There are two styles of arm action, both correct. Thosa' sprinters who run with a forward balance, of which lam such a keen advocate, should adopt a forward and backward arm action.

"Great care should be taken when \ | practising this arm action that the arms are not thrown too far out, for in such a case the swing is'not of any assistance whatever, for the balance : is altogether altered. In this style j the muscles of the shoulders and bask j are brought into action 'ns much as ; possible. The cro3s arm action should • be adopted by runners who are only ; | slightly inclined forward. When run- j ning in this style the arms should be , thrown across the stomach, and worked simultaneously with the legs. "Always when sprinting the head should be firmly hel J by the muscles of the neck, and inclined forward the muscles of the shoulders should also be knit, thus holding the head and shoulders firmly together throughout the race. On no account allow , the position of the head to change by looking round or sideways, for as soon as the pose of the head is altered the entire balance of the body is lost. "It is wnsn nearing the tape that runners are most tempted to lose their form in their endeavour to reach it sooner than is possible. How common it is to see sprinters absolutely lose their balance in the last 21) yards of a>print. This is chiefly due, as I have just mentioned, to losing control of their heads in the first place, with the result that the arms get up, and the runner starts fighting and at once gets on his heels. In the finish of a race the sprinter must keep his self control, and in the; last 25yds draw a fresh breath and about lSyda from the finish endea\on- to hurl the budy forward at the tape, and at the same time try to quicken the stride.

It is the runner with™the most nervous energy who makes|*the best finishes in fact, some of the best. sprinters are even hysterical subjects. Some sprinters have told me when nearing the finish of a race they seem to be possessed of an unholy terror of hearing the crunch of the cinders behind them, and they feel as if their very soul depended on getting to the tape first. "On passing the tape the sprinter should never suddenly run on at full pressure for about another five yards, then gradually taper to a trot, as the action of sprinting is a very severe strain on the heart, and a sudden stop is calculated to do considerable harm to this moat important organ. Another thing, running past the tape in a race'will strengthens a man and gives him confidence in his ability to run the journey out."