The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-14
THESE RULES
WILL TEACH YOU TO
BE A RUNNER

hiuuy p6Uple are lOEu VI Oub-uOOr tAeI-
else whose lack OF time or money pro-
hibits their joining the vast army of
cyclists. Those who cannot go wheeling
can comfort them selves with the thought
that since the days of antiqui ty walking
has been among the most healthful as
we'll as the cheapest OF all recreations.
Yet few persons understand how 20 walk
properly and certainly among women it
is lost art.
the people who live in mountainous
countries, it has been noticed, walk in
d manner quite different from those who
dwell where the country is level. The
mountaineer's body is bent somewhat
forward and he seems to drag one loot
after the other, like wearied soldier
after long days march. But his stride
is longer, his step surer, and it is easy to
see that be can readily leave an ordinary
walker far BEND. Those VINO walk IN
this fashion are able to run Long dis
tances without fatigue. with their bodies
inclined forward and their legs somewhat
bent. To tine casual observer 1T seems as
if their equilibrium was continually on
the point of being lost and that they would
fall face downward.
Yet this method OF walking is univer-
sal among all peoples OF the globe who go
much afoot, from the savages of Africa to
the runners of Japan and the Indians of
the west.
= French captain OF artillery named
r soul Las made an exhaustive study OF
the various STYLES of walking to ascertain
the one best adapted to the army on long
marches. He fopnd plenty of young fell
lows OF considerable endurance who
could march with great rapidlty for a
consid erable distance, but would then go
RI The frOnhIp apnD1nd Tn no th at
the lungs and heart gave out before the
legs.
A runner puts forth an enormous force.
He must lift his own weight from the
ground three or four times per second,
which amounts to the development of
about one-third of one horse power. Such
exertion is severe tax on the lungs and
heart.
The conclusion of Captain Raoul was
that the runner should at no time lose his
| point of support upon the sround that he
| should run without springing through
| the air, as it were. and without one foot
| leaving the earth until the other IS srm-
| ly planted; that the gait should be prac-
tically walking run. Strangely enough,
this is exactly the N ethod that instinct
and experience have taught as the best
one to those whose only method OF cak
ing long and rapid journeys is afoot.
1t as been estimated that in this way
less than half the usual amount Of energy
is expended.
Il can take any man between 20 and
60 years of age, IN goot health" says
Canta!n Raoul, "and in little while he
will bs able to run as long as his legs
will carry him without feeling the least
discomfort in his respiration. Some men
l have seen who were particularly apt
were able at the erst trial to easily get
over about seven miles, while in the ordi-
nary way they could not comfortably
haya a than about tw0-thlr0S Of
a mile"
Captain Raoul's method. briefly stated,
IS as follows: The upper part of the body
should be held straight, the head we'll in
air and the shoulders thrown back so that
the breath comes easily. The elbows
should extend little back of the hips.
Com mence with short steps, say a foot
ly to clear any Irregularities in the sur
face of the ground. The upper part of
the hody should be inclined forward as
much as possible, 50 as to make it peces-
sary to run or walk rapidly to keep from
losing equilibrium. Plant the feet firmly
yet with the suppleness and agility Of a
cat. In other words, one should seem to
run after his center of gravity, which
threatens continually to fall forward. The
first exercises should not be hurried, bl
the speed and distance trayersed in
creased gradually.
The utility of this method was put to a
test not long ago at Vannes, France, with
a platoon of the One Hundred and Six
teenth regiment of infantry. So excel
lent were the results that other bodies of
men wers trained in the same way. One
of the soldiers, after course of training,
accom- plished nearly twelve and half
miles without single stop in two hours,
and at the end of mis- route was not the
least out OF breath.-New York World.