The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-04
WILLARD'S own
STORY OF HIS
TRAINING LIFE
Heavyweight Champ Tells
How He Spends Day Pre-
pairing for Big Fight.
BY JESS WILLARD.

New York, March 3.-This was just the
sort of morning have been longing for
since hit the big city. Instead OF tossing
off the bed clothes when the old alarm
rang at $50 1 just rolled over and took
another snooze. The extra few winks
came in handy, for 1 was out a little
later last night, appearing at few show
houses to help out very worthy cause.
About 1880 Walter Monahan, my morn
ing terror broke into my bedroom and
suggested rather harshly that it would be
a very good idea to get up.
LAS long as I'm up and dressed don't
see why other folks should be taking
things too easy" remarked Walter.
Knowing his habit OF tossing you out
IL you don't listen to reason, 1 thought
It would be a good idea to arise. After
splashing around in the tub for some
time and then getting a corking rub down
from Monahan and Hemple, I dressed
and prepared for an attack on the ra-
tions.
The bunch just sat around the table
and ate and talked, but must say l did
more of the former. l could tell from
the happiness displayed by both Mona
han and Hemple that they weren't SO
very much dissatisfied with remaining in
doors for one day. 1t may seem strange
that l should renig on road work in the
first week, but my real reason was to get
a slight change so that the running
would not become so monotonous and
tiresome.
A man training should not keep his
nose too close to the grindstone, for it's
bound to get burned and make things
annoying. Also l recognize perfectly well
that have three weeks from Sunday to
get in shape. And that's really more
time than necessary.
Gets Down to Work.
After our lunch all hands took a nice
stroll and came back about 1870. Then II
was a jump into the machine and a ride
down to the club. We reached the club
house shortly after 2 o'clock. which gave
me time enough to get into my buds and
start work promptly at 2:3O.
I felt as good as 1 did yesterday start
ing to work, and the boys were just as
lively. In working on the pulleys I was
just aching to yank them off the wheels.
When l finished this exercise my blood
was running wild and I was anxious to
box. The trio Of partners, Bob Williams,
Jack Hemple and Walter Monahan were
infused with plenty of snap and they
gave me the best boxing workout I've
had since the start. When we finished
our round of boxing 1 was perspiring |
freely, which was just what / wanted. !
good, healthy persplration will carry
more ills out of the system than all the !
medicine manufactured. Stranger" |
Lewis helped to start the water rolling |
out OF my pores by giving me a siren |
uous workout on the mat. / enjoyed the !
tussle with Lewis so much that l think !
l will ask the stranger to come around !
and assist me whenever he has the time |
When this was all over l went through |
the old system of Strengthening the body |
muscles by bending backward and touch !
Ing the floor with my head while my
body was hanging on a chair. II you
don't think this will harden your stom- |
ach muscles just try it few times.
Had to Taboo Bag Punching.
1 intended to do some bag punching in !
the afternoon and had the apparatus on
the stage, but unfortunately the support |
was not high enough for me to start |
work
When the bag is all set for action 1t |
will enable me to let loose a few swift
swings. uppercuts and hooks. You see. |
when boxing with a partner you really |
don't hit as hard as you would II you
were fighting.
Getting back to the training stunt. II
enjoyed another corlSing hot bath be-
fore Monahan and Hemple started to
give me bear of a massage They
didn't handle me any too gently while
kneading and pounding the flesh. When
1t was all over and the days work was
over felt like a lion. The way the flesh
has fallen away within the past few DAYS
convinces me that 1 have lost at least
three pounds And when l start real
work the early part of next week the
old few pounds of surplus flesh will melt
away like snow on sunny afternoon.