Athletic Sports (extract)

Physical Characteristicsof the Athlete tensive —the stride ofa fast walker being from four to six feet, and that of a fast runner from six to eight feet. If the stature is short, it is necessary for the run­ ner to get a greater elevation from the ground at each step in order to main­ tain a long stride. When this is done a relatively long lower leg is of the great­ est advantage. This fact is admirably brought out inthe case of Myers, the pro­ fessional runner. With aheight of 5 feet 7J inches, which is a little below the mean, or fifty per cent class, he has a length of lower leg which corresponds to a man over 5 feet 10 inches in height, a length of thigh usually found in men of 5 feet 9 inches, while the sitting height is the same as that which makes up the stat­ ure of men of 5 feet 4 inches. ^ Figs. 2 and 4 (pp. 53, 57), Chart II., give the physical proportions oftwo other runners noted for their speed. Fig. 3 (p. 55), with the same chart, represents a walker ofsome prominence. Many of the characteristics that distinguish the short- distance runner are apparent in this case, but it is difficult to affirm that they would be found in other walkers, as there are not sufficient data at hand to establish any satisfactory conclusions. 67