Evening star., 1943-04-11

sell primarily WIN speed. A quick
getaway is vitality important. If you
get out in front Of the other fellow,
you probably will win, other things
being about equal. AS a matter of
fact, you can even be trifle slower
than your opponents, and If you
make the better start, you can more
than overcome the handicap.
Starting Holes. .
Get the habit Of using starting
holes, even for your practice races.
In digging your starting holes, be
sure they are properly distanced.
Place one knee on the starting line.
Dig your front hole where your toe
strikes the ground. Then put the
other hole comfortable way back,
so as to get exactly the same amount
of pushof from each foot.
Let your thumb and index fingers
rest on the line to support your body
weight. This gives your legs the op-
portunity to make the pushoff at
the Go"
When you hear "Take your
marks get your feet into the start
ing holes, placing your hands on the
starting line in a bipod fashion.
Rest one knee on the ground until
you hear Get SET" Then you can
support yourself with the tips of
your toes in the holes. Your fingers
should be extended on the starting
line. Then you are ready for Co"
And when you hear this last COM
mand let loose with every bit of
speed you possess. Breathe deeply
and run relaxed.
AS you 60 down the last few yards,
try to gain speed. You may be un-
able to do SO, but this guards against
a letup. You must never let your
self slow down in such a short race,
for the other fellow will be bidding
strongly. ready to pass you.
Lunge Finish.
Charley Paddock, once Americas
greatest foot racer and rightly called
the worlds fastest human" en-
ployed lunge finish. Just as he
was ready for the finish, Paddock
would make mighty lunge. This
would tend to speed up his finish
and avert any last-second threats by
opponents.
If you are trying for longer races,
timing, pace and coordination are
all "musts." For instance, if you
run the half mile, you will find it
impossible to sprint all that dis
tance. You can start slowly, in
third or fourth place, and stay fairly
close to those ahead of you. Just
remember to time yourself and to
pace Jour jaunt.
Then when that last lap comes up
you will be ready to start sprinting.
Your opponents who have led the
way probably will be too tired to
keep up with you. They will have
spent themselves in the early run
ming. This will be the signal for
you to pass one, then another and
another until you find yourself out
in front. Then sprinting is needed;
just run as though you were in the
100-yard dash.
Novelty Events.
You and your friends can have
other races for your amusement.
Get the gang together and have a
sack race and watch everybody
laugh. You can make it a relay.
Let each one run 20 yards and the
first team to finish is the victor
Or, to make it even better, have
half of each team wear sacks, the
other hall to run the usual way. You
will find your sides hurting from
laughter before the race is COM
pleted.
Too, you can stage a one-legged
race. Here each contestant must
hop on one leg to the destination.
And if his other leg touches the
ground, he is disqualified.
An elephants race" Weuld be
amusing, too. The racers must get
down on hands and feet and race
to the finish line. Make it a 90
yard race and see how much fun it
stirs up. incidentally, this type of
event is excellent for keeping in
good physical shape. Most athletes
do this in their training programs,
SO follow their example.
All these races may be held
either in the park nearby, a vacant
lot, or your own back yard. Even if
you are working hard, collecting
scrap materials for Uncle Sam and
otherwise doing your bit, you need
recreation. Try some of these events,
not only to keep in good shape, but
to relax. Then you will find your
self feeling better, more able to do
your part in aiding your country.
Always keep At!