MIDDLE AND DISTANCE RUNNING 31 
doctors and medicines,” ete., 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 184 years, as compared 
with 174 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- 
