Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-05-22


alas in the very first meeting between
these two giants, when all the interest
in. the race was centered on these two.
Sanger met with severe accident and
was for a time incapacitated for fur
ther work. Later, however, he went to
England, and while there administered
severe drubbing to the best OF the
English riders, winning the one mile
and the five mile English champion
Sanger has since become one of the
greatest riders we have. His forte is
unpaced work, and probably he is the
greatest unpaced rider in the world.
For this style of work it is necessary to
possess degree of strength that is al
most unknown to the regular short dis
tance competitor. His views on train
ing are as follows:
Before doing any work at all the
stomach must be got into shape by
thorough physicing, which relieves the
system of all bilieusness. This leaves
the body in a very weak condition, and
it must be strengthened gradually by
keeping very quiet and eating light
food, such as milk toast, soft-boiled
eggs, ETC., for a few days, after which
more strengthening food may be taken.
"The first three days very little exer-
else is sulficient-three to six miles a
day, at about $500 to $3.50 gait, This
should be gradually worked down day
by day, until at the end of few weeks
the pace is brought down to about 2: 50.
The third week will show n more rapid
change in the condition of the man; the
miles will be rolled off at about a $3.50
to 2:20 clip, and the distance by this
time will be heightened to about nine
miles each day. A little faster work
may now be INDUCED in, and half q
mile can be reeled off at about one
minute clip (paced), to show the condi-
ton of the man in regard to endurance.
if he is found wanting he must again
return to plugging; but if he has the
required endurance, he may start to
sprint q short distance.
''It is at this point that the trainer
should get in his fine work, turning the
supertluous flesh into muscle. After
each workout the man should have
thorough drying with coarse towels,
followed by a most thorough mas
sage, every muscle being worked and
manipulated. The flesh on the stomach,
back and loins is rolled in the fingers
until the whole body seems to be COW
cred with but Il slight layer of flesh
over the muscles. Care should be taken
to keep the muscles of the legs soft
and pliable, as there is no speed in
muscle that becomes hard
after the body and muscles have
been put in fine condition the sprints
are gradually heightened, until the
rider is able to cut Il full quarter of
mile at top speed and finish strongly.
Being able to do this, he is in condition
to begin the seasons campaign.
"a trainer cannot spend too much
time with his man, especially after
races. Every moment in this work will
doubly repay rider and trainer, as the
more the muscles are worked the more
flexible they become and less liable
to stiffen up or bind after a sprint. The
racing man cannot give himself too
fully into the hands of his trainer or
rely too much on the latter's Judgment
providing the trainer is competent
man-as the trainer is working for
himself as well as the rider, and the.
record of the latter's victories and de-
feats is the record of the trainers work
The man in training should avoid eat
ing pastries and all kinds of rich food.
y little fruit in the morning does more
good than harm; the less coffee or
water taken the better
During all this time great care
should be taken not to reduce too rap
idly, as this will cause the skin to be-
come feverish; the superfluous flesh
should be turned into solid muscle
rather than removed altogether At
the beginning of the racing season he
should have n little flesh to work on,
rs he will gradually be worked down
during the hard seasons campaigning"
One of the representative trainers in
America is A. E. Webb, who has had
the care of many champions, including
Tom Cooper, the phenomenal sprinter
of 1896, Who won three of the five ma
tional championships. Besides Cooper,
Webb has trained the athletes of many
Of the greatest colleges in this coun-
try, and stands to-day as one of the
most scientific men in his particular
line of work. Mr.. Webb ascribes his
success to the simple fact that he out
lines a plan for his charge, and insists
that it shall be strictly obeyed. He
says:
81 think it is a good idea to take up
light gymnasium work just previous to
the opening of the riding season. I
would recommend work that is light
and calls for plenty of heart action
such as punching the bag, boxing, Rob-
ert's dumb-bell drill, basket hall, hand
ball and running. Omit exercises in
which the weight of the body is sup
ported by the arms.
"When the weather is favorable, take
short rides on the roads, and have the
body warmly clothed. Get to riding
on the track as soon as possible if you
wish to do track racing; once on the
track the rider might Just as we'll make