Athletes in Action

STARTING (z) WnEN the athlete is told to "Get Set," he will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 opposite. Before the rear knee is raised the weight of the body should go slowly forward on to the front foot and the fingers, so that the centre of gravity of the body is disposed over the centre of the tripod formed by the fingers and front foot. Before the back knee is raised, however, the front knee should be pressed down tO\vards the track as the body goes forward. The eyes continue to watch the marked spot where the rear foot will fall in the first stride, about three lengths of one of the runner's own feet beyond the scratch-line. This will ensure that the head is not cramped by being bent back on the neck. The back should be straight and parallel to the track. If the buttod.s are raised higher than the shoulders the athlete will drive forward and down, instead of forward and up, as he comes out of the holes. IN THE "SET" POSITION THE ARl\r1S 1\IUST BE STRAIGHT- ENED AT THE ELBOWS; again one emphasises the fact that the hands must not be separated more than a little beyond the width of the shoulders, because the stabil- ising of the body balance depends upon this detail. Again, if the eyes are directed along the track, instead of at a marked spot some 3 ft. in advance, the athlete's attention is apt to be distracted. As the runner takes the " Set " position, he should drav:.r a deep breath and hold it. It is not my purpose to discuss here the technique of breathing, but a held breath postulates a fixed thorax to support the runnin~ action. There should be hardly any weight on the rear foot at this stage. ..... V.)