The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05


high and running broad jumping The foot
must touch IN exactly the right spot, so many
feet and inches from each flight, and there
must be just so much vital energy expended.
There are very few healthy young men that
cannot clear feet inches with ease; but
to do it ten times with aggressive COM
petitor at your shoulder is quite another
thing. Fifteen feet for a broad jump is not
much, but succession of them is quite an
other thing. To clear hurdle under full
speed requires rare combination OF the ut
most caution and the greatest daring
When the leap has been taken the land is not
made as in broad jump-all in heap; on the
contrary, the utmost exertion must be made to
strike on the left foot and instantly get to
running. There must be no jerk, no halt, no
weakness. Everything depends on the rum
ner resuming his stride as though he was in
a hundred-yard race. Having resumed his
stride there are usually three steps taken be-
tween each hurdle, and OF course they must
be put in with all dispatch.
The position of body and limbs while going
over the gate is also vital point. The arms
should keep with the legs, and be given such
violent swing and jerk as to be OF great as
sistance in helping the jumper in his fight.
OF course the hurdle must be taken face on. as
any deviation would throw the body out OF
true and lead to serious consequences. The
right foot is under the body and kept as close
to the thigh as possible. The left foot is ad-
vanced and considerably extended; the body
almost erect, the arms in such position as to
best assist in the flying motion. Most hur-
dlers use the right foot to spring from and the
left to alight on.
Up to half distance the race is usually easy,
but at the fifth or sixth hurdle the strain be-
gins, and 1t is in this part of the race that en-
durance is useful, not to say necessary.
Therefore, an ambitious hurdler should en-
deayor to acquire endurance as one OF the es-
sentiais in the class of race in question.
Ii were to take up hurd rdle-racing would
not begin by running over the flights. would
first acquire the quick start, and learn to get
into running with all possible speed. would
jump frequently on the springbosrd at the
gymnasium, to gain strength in my calves;
practice high jumping, taking pains 10 clear
the bar with straight bound and an erect
body, watching my feet TO keep from striking
Then would practice a little broad jumping,
but avoid landing in any other way than on
one foot, continuing the running at once. If
you find that your speed is greater than your
endurance, then practice to "stay."
1t is not an uncommon thing to find an
athlete who is a superior hurdler but who is a
third-rate man in short-distance running and
starting. so do not be discouraged If your
neighbor runs right away from you at the
short distance. You may find that before the
race is far along you may be creeping up to his
shoulder.
Many persons are doubtless under the I'm
preston that to be a successful hurdler re-
quires q trainer, an instructor, and the very
best facilities in existence. This is not so in
fact; for some of the best athletes this coast
ever produced were seli-taught and self
trained. This, however, is particularly true in
regard to hurdle racing; and enthusiasts of
few years ago can remember how young man
tha nj Of Cali o10,,a
and almost unaided, established best on
record in the world at the coast championship
games-15sz seconds. This illustration is ad-
vanced to show athletes in general, and
hurdlers in particular, that, after all, ambi-
ton and industry are the great forces in the
world of athletics; and properly applied great
results can sometimes be obtained from the
most unpromising materials.
Let US see what is to be gained by being a
good hurdler. First of all, if you become a
quick starter it will impart q quickness OF
thought that is inspiring, transforming de-
hberate, not to say poky, boy into prompt,
active man. The mind as well as the body
will feel the effect in greater alertness To be
brisk in body without nervousness is greatly
to be desired; and 1t is this very quick starting
that assists in curing nervousness, for the pis-
tol-frer Will not permit any unsteadiness on
the mark if he understands his business
Then the last few hurdles, the test of en-
durance. How it does call upon his muscle
and his vitality to hold out under the strainl
How the limbs get loggy, and how the sinews
achel Not only is it a test of physical en-
durance, but mental as well. Let it be dis
tinctly remembered that if boy is wanting in
pluck there is no school for curing him of that
deficiency, or correcting the habit of giving
up, like a race. To see man passing you, to
feel prize slipping away from your very
grasp, the cheers or the frowns of friends-as
the case may be-and above all the anxious
eyes of one in particular, and the desire for
her approving smile, is any experience quail
fed to put grit aud nerve into a man more
than a hard race?
case of great Improvement occurs to me-
once knew young man who had trouble
with his eyes-so much so that it became neces-
sary for him to wear colored glasses. More
over, when 1 saw him he did not look well; his
complexion was not healthy and he moved
about languldly. The trouble spread to his
mental faculties, for his look was downcast and
his voice subdued. 1 met him on the train
going out to the grounds. ana was struck with
his appearance. He said he was going to try
running to see If it would do him any good.
lost sight of him for about three months,
until one day 1 attended a set of games. To
my surprise this young man won the 75-yard
handicap over a field of twenty-five or thirty,
and when / met him after the games / scarcely
knew him; his eye was clear and bright; his
head erect and his step elastic and vigorous,
exercise. GEORGE D. BAIRD.