Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09
CHAMPION HOLMER
A NATURAL ATHLETE

NEW WORK January S.-Some OIL our
host athletes have been brought to the
front nv constant training and coachlng'
white others take the jump from opscur-
~ into tl,e limelight without the slightest
rossihIe idea Of what 1t means to be drill
al in their chosen specially. They belong
IA the great minority class-the class OF
exceptions.
OF all the men who have gained fame
in athletics without more than their nat
ural abilities to rely upon. Hans Homer,
the Canadian champion marathoner anu
no der of the professional record for the
long route, is the most striking example
now before the public.
Holmer has never been Systematically
trained or shown any of the nne points
Of the running game. A httle over L"o
wears ago, while serving in the Canadian
army he CHANGED upon a DOCK on tiie
shelves of the barracks library. 1t was
a treatise on running, by George Orton,
the old University Of Pennsylv star
runner. In 1896. Orion won the french
steeplechase championship. seventeen
championships were won by hlm neiore
he was defeated in 1902 by Newton: No
wonder his book is spiendlu sulue ~
the undeveloped runner. -,
Two years ago l was bit or a kld.
YOU know" said Hans, when questioned
| was chasing couple or the boys
through the gymna sum connected with
the post. We went up and down the 1roht
and back stairs on the jump. Ihey mao
a Jolly good start on me, but seeing the
way | was gaining on them they went
ont of one of the doors. L knew they
thought they'd lose me over the rough,
lilly ground in the rear of the puiidlng.
but I could 60 Dill IN the country anu
| got 'em both.
.,That gave me the idea that / was
even a better runner than some or the
full-sroWn men who were gettins away
with medals at the reg.mental games, and
| found George OrtonS book that night
He was wonderful al round runner.
and ! picked up lot of good IDEAS out
of that book 1 started running snort and
middle distances. with the idea that
large man should not go In Tor the longer
runs, although / was good at them. ] ne
first race ! won was In lnatch with
good auarter-miler, and 1 had bet every
penny had in the world I'd win
I've never had any one tel me now TO
run and | guess there's no reason why
snould be pestered with advice now.
always could run fast as l can now,
and it came to me naturally. Some lie :
lows can be taught how to run or Jump
or do most anything, but some just don
need to be shown a thing.
Holmer is very proud Of his Sharkey-
like chest and his powerful legs He is
built for most any athletic sport When
he won the Atlantic City Marathon he
became tired of the monotony of the
scenery and, instead of saving his wind.
he INDUCED in the gentle pastlme OF
whist.ing as he passed over the last Few
miles Of the course.
His style of running is awkward to
ook at. His large feet slap the earth
with a resounding whack at every stride;
his body keeps an almost upright posi-
ZION. leaning L little backward, if any
thing; his legs work like machinery and
his feet do not come up very high when
lifted from the ground. 1t Is extremely
doubtful that any professional trainer
could improve IIolmers running.