The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-07

q second what the time was, or tell you
that l was going to walk go yards in forty
seconds, and finish within a fraction of the
stated time. could walk mile or any
such distance, and on reaching the post
quarter mile from home, if given the time,
would predict the time for the full dis
lance, and would be inside two seconds of
being exact. This practice on the watch
relieved the monotony of walking alone
and endowed me with the most delightful
independence and self-reliance.
Now do not suppose that because
walked frequently on the watch l
was necessarily racing myself to death.
Not at all. l generally decided upon the
distance before starting; then | would
proceed, and my friend would inform me
at each lap the time l was making. Some
times | would prepare schedule by COM
bining the experience gained from my
trials with times made by others, and my
friend would shout after me as l would
shoot past the post 1.-TWO seconds slow" or
"three seconds fast, as the case might be.
l discovered that distance runners and
walkers were in the habit of travelling in
preposterOuslvI irregular time. After
studying all the records possible l came
to the conclusion that serious errors were
being practiced; that runners and walkers
were not studying the important subject
of judgment. The principal error seemed
to be irregularity in pace; but [ also
noticed that five seconds lost in the first
quarter mile could never be made up. 1t
is very necessary that the pace should be
regular, that the vitality may be ex-
hausted gradually.
II must be remembered that the runner
has long way to go if he has two or three
miles to cover, and he should study every
feature of his style of locomotou. The
head should be carried erect, but the neck
should not be stiff. In running five miles
l frequently noticed that the muscles i'll
the back of my neck were stiff and in
cIined to ache. 1t was from holding my
neck too stiff, but l could not help it, so
did not trouble myself unduly over the
matter.
The hands and arms should be carried
easily at the sides; above all things do not
draw them up, bu5 let them hang at the
sides, with the elbow slightly bent, and,
with arms slightly akimbo, move them
slightly back and forth, exactly parallel to
each other. The wrists must not be stiff,
but swing in unison with the rest of the
arm. The hands should not be cIenched,
but grasping cigar-shaped corks with the
fingers somewhat elongated, the thumb
lying against the tip of the cork.
The position of the feet in running is
worthy of great attention. For distances
up to one mile the running should be done
entirely on the toes. the heel never strik-
ing the ground. Over one mile it may be
convenient for some beginners to sink on
their heels when they get, tired, as the
strain on unused muscles may be unwise
and unnecessary. One will never become
a great runner until ne can run ten mil les
at vigorous pace on the ball of his foot.
Never give up race while you can place
one foot before another and your opponent
has not touched toe tape. The race is not
always to the swift, and those ahead of
you may drop in their tracks or leave the
course, or foul some one and be disquali-
fed. Moreover, it is bad, very bad, habit
to quit. Once you acquire it you will find
that it has gained hold on you that will
be difficult to master. l have known cases
where "a runner has been overhauled
by champion, and, after running a
SHOIG 'u4StduCS, otOpPSd. I1o uau o4HI-
ply been frightened and because
he did not see any use in continuing, or
because it would be presumption on his
part to continue and subject himself to
ridicule. A runner should never feel this
way. He has started out to win, and
nothing but defeat should deter him; and
it is not defeat if the scratch man spurts
up to your shoulder or the man ahead of
you seems stronger than yourself. Either
one may be taken with cramps or their
vitality ooZe out before the finish.
The outfit of distance runner is very
small, but it should contain pair of corks
if nothing else. These should be hand
made and as follows: Take a chunk about
three inches long and about two inches
square. Cut this in two and carve from
each the shape of a cigar. You will find
they will fit in the hand perfectly-not
grasped in the full fist, but with the fingers
elongated as already described. 1t is won
derful what a comfort they are to most
long-distance runners, absorbing the per-
SEPARATION and giving them something to
cling to-an uncomfortable desire in most
men. GEORGE d. BAIRD.