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Short “Distance” Races, Iincluding the Mile

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THE MILE.

A special distinction clings to this race, in that the record made by W. G. George twenty-two years ago still stands, and, as it is now about 3 sees. better than the next best effort, it seems likely to stand perhaps for another similar period.

Curiously, however, George himself thinks that it could be, and ought to be, beaten. He even suggests that the time could be lowered a full second, if not more.

That is as may be, but I am inclined to agree with him that it is not a race which requires too much final training. A three-quarter mile training such as I have outlined above will have got you in tip-top condition, and after slacking off for a week or so I would suggest a steady course of half-, three-quarter-, mile-, and mile-and-a-quarter spins. These should be daily work, but about one practice e day would be sufficient. For sprinting practice, to finish up with, take the last 100 yards or so of each spin at a burst, and rest content with that. The main thing is to get thoroughly fit, well, and good first, and then to confine yourself to such work as will keep you so. You are in for a hard job, and will have so much taken out of you by the race itself that you must be careful not to dig too deeply into your reserves of energy beforehand.

RUNNING THE MILE.

In the actual race you want to go off with a burst so as to get clear of the ruck, but must steady up early-B
not later than 30 or 40 yards-and then stride along evenly and well to the home straight; after that it is hell-for-leather. A regular, even stride is, perhaps, more important in the mile than it is even in the 10 miles, for you must not pump or distress yourself in any way. At the long distance you will have several chances of picking up again, but these won’t be accorded in the mile itself.

If you are out record-breaking it may be worth while to quote George’s times in 1886 in order to show how evenly the race must be run. W. G. did his first quarter in 58 1/2 sees., the second in 63J sees., the third in 65 3/4 sees., and the last in 65 sees. ; time, all over, 4 -min. 12 3/4 sees. If this feat is to be surpassed a fraction will, I think, have to be knocked off the first quarter, and a full second, or nearly as much, from the last. It is all very well to theorise, however; but, never-theless, I think it can be done, and I am sure that George himself would be the first to congratulate the man who did it.

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