MIDDLE AND DISTANCE RUNNING 31 



doctors and medicines/' etc., and the relatively minor one of increased 

 muscular development. The usual benefits resulting from training 

 for any branch of athletics are also emphasized, namely, regular 

 hours and regular habits of living, how and what to eat, the incom- 

 patability of dissipation with physical stamina, the moral lesson that 

 hard work, and that alone, leads to success. These benefits, it will be 

 noticed, are of the kind that contribute to increased constitutional 

 strength, strength of heart, lungs and vital organs, and are permanent 

 in character. The almost unanimous testimony to this increase in 

 vital strength is worthy of special note. 



Cross-country Running. — Cross-country running is generally be- 

 lieved to be one of the best exercises that young men can take. The 

 testimony of Mr. Joseph Wood, the headmaster of Harrow, is of par- 

 ticular value in this connection. He writes : 



We keep no actual record of our runners, but I have been a headmaster 

 now for over forty years, and my experience certainly goes to prove that cross- 

 country running does no harm but much good; second, that in long-distance 

 racing much care is necessary. No boy should be allowed to compete unless 

 certified as sound and fit by competent medical advisers. At Harrow we make 

 this a rule. 



As Mr. "Wood implies, there is a vast difference between cross- 

 country running, in which a man swings along at a rate well within 

 his powers, and cross-country racing, in which he must drive himself 

 at high pressure from three to ten miles. There seems to be a pretty 

 well-developed opinion among the runners that cross-country racing is 

 injurious. An intercollegiate champion, the captain of a varsity team 

 writes : 



I have had considerable opportunity to observe the effect of track and cross- 

 country racing on athletes in this section [the west[. I have yet to see the 



track man at who was injured by races over the half-mile, mile and 



two-mile courses, but cases have occasionally come to my notice of men whose 

 vitality was drained severely by cross-country races over five-mile courses. 



Another captain and coach writes to the same effect. Information 

 accidentally received relating to one of the eastern universities, reveals 

 a belief among the students that the men on the cross-country squad 

 drain themselves of vitality, and there is frequent expression of opinion 

 to that effect from the athletes who responded to this inquiry. 



Interesting Facts. — The cross-country men began running later in 

 life than the track men, the average being 18^ years, as compared 

 with 17^ for two milers, 17 for milers and 16 for half milers. In the 

 latter, the percentage of heart affections was greater than with the 

 one and two mile men. In view of the immaturity of the boys who ran 

 in the 880 class, this is not surprising. 



Two thirds of the athletes participated freely in general athletics 

 when not in training for track — in football, baseball, basketball, tennis, 

 hockey, gymnastics, etc., and were practically engaged in vigorous ex- 



