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A Few Special General Training Hints

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AIDS TO TRAINING IN OTHER SPORTS-

Between training seasons, and even while these are in full swing, an athlete may assist his preparation by in-dulging in an occasional game of cricket or a practice game of football. In the last-mentioned game he should be careful to avoid running any risks of damage, so should not engage in an actual match however greatly he may be tempted. Nevertheless despite the risk, prac-tice football is well worth attention. A man gets into the trick of being remarkably quick on his feet, and can obtain some gloriously exciting sprints down the touch-line, which will be quite free from the monotony fre-quently attaching to a solitary practice burst on the track.

But it would not be wise to go in even for a practice game just before a race. Accidents to knees and other joints may occur even on those occasions.
I have generally contrived to keep myself pretty fit during the summer by sticking to cricket. The tip-and-run variety of the game is good fun and good practice, while the more serious side is not devoid of use.

I cannot lay claim to having made any history as a batsman, but I used to bowl above a bit, and among my other prizes am very proud of the cricket ball which was presented to me in commemoration of my capturing seven wickets for 16 runs in one of the Jockeys versus Champion Athletes games at the Oval.

The only two outdoor sports which I would condemn for athletics are cycling and swimming. Swimming is wonderfully healthy, I know, and is an excellent method of developing the chest and lunge, but it nevertheless does make a man slow, since it stiffens his leg muscles.

Cycling, however, is about the worst possible form of exercise for a running man. The muscles developed thereby are positively inimical to running. They grow fixed and hard, and hamper all quick movements terribly. Besides which, a runner wants a long, steady stride, not a series of pernicketty little steps such as cycling encourages.

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