Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-24
TRAINING WILL
HELP SPLINTER
Expert Says Condition and
Form Are Big Factors.

may be born with spiked shoes on his
feet, but the average college sprintei
who dashes to his ten and four-fifths
fiat is pretty generally four parts
training TO one part native ability.
At any rate that Is the opinion Carl
Easton Williams, famous athlete and
physical culture expert who writes In
the American Boy Magazine, arrived
at after training his son, Russell, to
be the fastest runner of his school
1t Is an opinion that should serve to
encourage many boys who suspect Ut
times that they weren't born hundred
yard men.
Mr.. Williams points out that condi-
ton and form are the two main fac
tors In running and that OF the two
the former Is the most important.
Charlie Paddock found that invariably
when he bettered his form his speed
increased. after he thought he had
acquired his greatest speed" Mr.. VIII
liams writes, "he tried lifting his
knees-and worlds records fell. Some
times. when running his best, Pad
dock has hit his chin with his knees"
But Paddock himself admits that
condition is even more important than
form, and that 1t is serious mistake
to go into athletics without the proper
preliminary training. For" says Mr.
Williams, bear in mind that hun
dred-yard dash at maximum speed is
the most concentrated and stupendous
effort of which one Is capable"
Don't try to crowd years train
ing In three weeks" the American
Boy Magazine article continues. ut
can't be done. If you plan to go out
for track this spring, get busy In
gymnasium now: When you do start
the actual training don't try to do
everything the first day. Build your
strength gradually Quarter-mle col
lege men seldom run q full trial quar-
ter against time during the period of
training"
Mr.. Williams emphasizes the fact
that good sprinter is symmetrically
developed, that he runs with his whole
body and not just with his legs alone.
And this is where the element of form
comes in. He says: Really, form Is
efficiency, and In most branches of
athletics this means getting the whole
body into 1t, using the strength of
every part"
After boy gets la condition comes
the actual training in the technique
of the hundred. And here was where
Mr.. Williams was able to give his
son, Russell, many tips which he him
self had only learned from expert
ence.
He showed him the trick In getting
set of throwing the weight far for
ward on his hands, so far forward
that he could balance on his hands
without changing his position. This,
according to Mr.. Williams, was Arthur
Duffey's pet trick and was largely the
secret of his flasky getaway.
Regarding the start, the article in
the American Boy Magazine says:
Don't jump. Start running with
short, even strides, going off in low
gear" with your body forward; then
gradually straighten up as you work
into high gear Keep your head for
ward; never throw 1t back or up"
In training his son Mr.. Williams
particularly stressed the value Of re-
Taxation. IF you're tense and rigid
you can't start well, because you must
relax your muscles before you can
contract them for the push off. How
ever, If you'll train yourself to relax
while waiting for the gun you'll like
ly get off to perfect start every
time"
Discussing the finish when you're
nearing the tape, ar. Williams says:
Charlie Paddock has a trade mark,
as it were, in his finish. It's a ire
mendous leap and Charley has ex-
planned that in dozens Of cases he has
won races In the last ten or fifteen
yards, sometimes coming up from be-
hind, with this jump at the tape"
Although 1t really doesn't matter"
Mr.. Williams concludes his article in
the American Boy Magazine, "wheth-
er you win or lose in good contest
provided you have the fun of the
game, there Is no satisfaction In los
ing because of mistakes in training
The big value of athletics lies In this
lesson Of the supreme Importance Of
perpendicular in the discipline
that goes with it."