The Washington herald., 1909-05-23

plan ana EeCDEQID4ASi - DJV--
The author Of the latest wrinkle is Emil
r. voigt. who won the five-mile run at
the London Olympic games. beating the
best men IN the world. and who made a
new Olympic record by running the dis
tance N 25:nI-5
Eoigt never tasted a mouthful OF animal
feeI in his life. yet he Is sensible 10 leave
out his views as to whether the plan Is a
good or bad one generally; but he has
really original ideas with regard TO the
quantity 10 be eaten
His & lvice Is that man should always
be careful 20 eat enough, and particular
stress is laid on the point that 1t is better
20 overeat than 20 Undereat
Heretofore the trainers Of athletes and
the general run Of physical mentors
chined an unvarylng cry that to get the
benefit OF his food a man should partially
STINT himself, and some went SO far as 10
advocate periodical spells Of semi-starva-
ton.
II is little wonder. then. that a man who
says always be sure and eat enough and
you viii never grow stale should create
some sensation
The old trainers tabooed stfmulants.
but. according 20 VOigt. II a man can
stand Il, he VIII find some good from
nip OF brandy al the end OF a long race
Ike a Marathon, and he cites q case
where a man had collapsed near the end
OF a race. but got up and finished after
he took a little brandy.
To the massaging feature OF training
VOigt attaches a lot Of Importance. and
he is Of opinion that The scientific work
ing of the muscles is very advantageous
The primary objects Of massage applied
&c the athlete means the elimination OF
waste matter from between the muscles.
e. loosen the muscles from the bone and
to increase the elasticity Of the muscles
and 10 strengthen the Jendons-
Voight Gives Pointers.
In 4 general synopsis Vofgt says: As
70 the question Of diet, the wen-worn
phrase What is one mans food IS an
other mans poison only In exceptional
cases IS applicable 10 the athlete. As a
rule. what suits one healthy person suits
another, though occupation may demand
a slight variation in quantity.
Training dietary simply means healthy
food and drink-nOt mystic preparations
and elixirs The best way 70 commence
reform in food is 20 strike out OF re-
duce il quantity those obviously harm
ful articles such as rich pastry, coadi-
ments, new bread, sloppy and .pultaceous
foods
"I nave my own particular ideas about
animal food. and win not seek 10 intro
duce such controversial views here, but
would recommend 20 the athlete that his
food contain a minimum quantity OF
waste matter. which Is one OF the great
est factors in the Causation Of fatigue.
In this respect II might be well 70
mention specially liver. kidneys. and pig
meat The function OF the liver Is 70 sep
arate the poisons from the food eaten;
therefore, an extra amount OF waste
means extra duty for that organ
The undesiTability OF taking such foods
viii be az once apparent On the other
hand, bread biscuits, cheese. eggs, boiled
puddings, and dried fruit fern the basis
OF the ideal II training.
1T should always be borne in mind
that It Is distinctly preferable 20 overeat
than 70 Undereat Too little nourishment
Is frequently the cause OF breakdoWns
IN training and I feel convinced that
most OF the cases OF staleness ar really
due TO Overstrain, caused by insufficient
nourishment in the blood during siren
. uous exercise.
AS regards drinking. & IS advisable
10 drink only when thirsty, as the blood
is then in a concentrated condition and
in need Of fluid Too much fluid OF fluid
taken apart from thirst Is Injurious
Stimulants come under the same head.
and they deserve mention
Tt is q fact that some athletes have
constitutions so strong as 70 Withstand
the habituaI consumption Of alcoholic
liquors while in training. II must be con-
fessed also that they DO Lot appear to be
any worse for their indulgence. This.
however. 1Oes not apply to the majority
OF runners.
StfmuIants Harmful.
In a recent Marathon race I had the
opportunity OF watching a runner who
about three miles from the finish had
suffered so much from the grueling race
that IL was apparently impossible for him
70 run another mile without assistance.
At intervals. however. brandy was given
70 him, and he ran the distance through.
In explanation II might be pointed out
that the action OF alcohol on the system
IS 70 quickly turn Che reserves OF al
bumen IN the blood tissues into energy
After expending this energy the body is
or course, IN a much more impoverished
state than It would otherwise have been.
and Is then open 10 permanent injury
through 0versTain-
Consequently there is then q call for
greater quantity OF aoGTishmeut than
usual n order TO make up for this de-
hciency. II extra nourishment Is not
taken after such stimulation. the consti-
tuition Is weakened. It is desirable. there
fore. TO reduce stimuIants tc a minimum
during training
Apart from the narcotic and Stimulat-
ing effects OF smoking. a surface breath
ing IS thereby induced which Is particu-
larry detrimental to the long distance run
ner. HabitUaI smoking tends TO induce
a light respiration
The path practice which an athlete is
20 take varies considerably. according to
the distance for which he Is to train. For
distances from a quarter OF a mile TO one
mile il Is not too much. generally sueak-
ing 70 have path practice every day
From ; 10 O'Clock in the evening is the
best time TO train.
BY that time the midday meal should
be well digested and the nutriment from
the same should be ready for transFerence
into energy For the distances mentioned
Il Is advisable 70 cover the whole course
once 4 week. This should be done at an
easy pace 70 begin with. gradually quick
ening ss the man becomes 1T
Hsh the distance 20 be trained for
might be covered once or twice a week at
a smart pace while the remaining even
ings can be devoted 10 the cultivation OF
speed and style.
IN training due attention must be given
20 racing. A goodly number Of athletes
who run comfortably N practice and fully
expect 70 find the necessary amount OF
fighting power on the day Of the race
ara very often sorely disappointed The
heart and muscles have probably been
trained UP to moderate exercise and not
20 the real fighting pitch, so they are not
sbie to respond properly at the crucial
moment"