Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-30
FORM, ALL-IMPORTANT
in MIDDLE DISTANCE
RUNNING; THE SPURT
Stride Gained by Expert
ence Only-Racer Must
Learn to Conserve En-
ergy for f in al Dash.
Position for the Start.
ARTICLE VII.

Young athletes are often confronted
with the serious problem, How shall
run the mddle-distanCe events?" \ word
of advice at the outset will disilluson
the novice that this branch of sport is
easy. TO attain any degree of perfection
strict attention must be paid TO form"
Form in the middle distances will count
for nearly everything To conserve the
energy for that all important sprint to
the finish, proper form, which is nothing
more than the faculty of reserving the
strength. is most essential. An effort
will be made to explain just how good
form is acquired
1t might be well to know that a sprint
race is any distance up to the quarter
mile. The middle distances comprise
events from the SSO-yard run up to five
miles. Five miles and above are true
distances.
Tine start in a middle distance run is not
so important as in the sprints, though it will
be well worth while to be able TO get away
down onsyonr-marks The t'I best form - is to
alg deep trenches thus insuring a good foot
is standing one. The left foot is placed in
placed few inches from the starting line.
Mil NTH the right toot well braced behind you
Al the word get SET lean forward to the
point OF falling of your mark, and at the
the running form.
action straight ahead. That is, the arms
should swing true back and forth like a
pendulum, and without conscious effort The
same Is true Of the legs. The toe OF the shoe
should extend straight ahead, not criss-cross
Tie leg action is hardest 10 acquire. The legs
mus, must not be brought forward as high as in the
hlHint, The Idea oeing to run as close TO the
sfoend as possible and with the least erfort
Shoot the leg well ahead. but keep the thighs
action your 'front.' leg will not bother you The
the front leg stride. Never kick with the
wasting energy and shortening the stride.
,slis 3is NH NH n21iee n.y., on ~stchins champion DIS
They reserve every ounce of strength for the
hips Is not only unsainly. but will wear you
opnae and nj the sopf sPf SIp Mi mbgsgss benomf NIL MI
slisniesl That IS when the greatest pleasure
eioed ludsmegt viii after form is acquired,
,e M another hd 'F,fe b 70 develop You must a all
Many distance athletes know that a certain
= fFiEhtful pace without blowing al the end,
The expert bdes his time. even though the
nov your pace and forget the other isq feiows efis
rs viii come back 70 you In the last part 9f
fp9rselfs u Is he easiest thing IN the world
- be lllsled- Sometimes. even. efforts the
fAft q SOME flupineh 70 kill OF the star Us
laede By putting In men who never intend to
Endufanee Is the necessary quality for mid
e5ssaistanee work with combination OF speed.
fafe distance should he tried early. About six
weeks before a race would be the proper time
fo DO bit Of hard running. Then taper down
With runEing for Your distance. Only by taking
good beating a number Of times need you
hope TO come through @th reasonable de
gree Of success. some lads have The wrong
ldea, They are afraid to start because Johnnie
smith can beat them IN training. The only waY
Johnnie smith will eser be beaten Is 70 stick
II 9oug tasks and develop that never-say -die
snifls. To gain confidence. run races.