Abstract
Students do not usually welcome classes in which they must practice long-distance races or endurance running. This study, however, was conducted in Hiroshima prefectural S High School where the long-distance relay race is the school sport and a climate favoring long-distance races has been cultivated. Accordingly, the learners were relatively more willing to participate in the practice. The study aimed at determining how the learners' stamina will improve through eight consecutive classes held over a period of about three weeks. At each class, a 12-minute running and walking test was given to the learners to measure their heart rates and running distances. The running distance and heart rate response- measured immediately after running began to improve substantially after the fourth to fifth class, as a result of the improved overall staying power of the learners. The improvement became even more distinct after the sixth to eighth class, reflecting the favorable effect of the practice. The learners also took 1500m running and step tests before and after they went through the eight classes. Comparison of test results proves improvement was made in records and indexes. Thus, practice was found to have been effective.
