Athletics (British Sports Library)

102 ATHLETICS landing lightly on the track directly under the body. The stride action is shown in Sketch I. Learn also how to vary the length of the stride. This will best be done by actual lap running, in the course of which occasional bursts of 150 yards are broken up by fairly slow pacing for double that distance. The runner must learn by experience the greatest length of sprint he is capable of holding. Experienced observers who have watched many races have never yet failed to marvel at the new lease of life the half-miler seems to acquire from a sprint finish. We all know the reason, which is that the runner, who has been careful to gather himself together for the effort, brings into play an almost entirely different action to that which he has been using throughout the race. Easy . hip-action has allowed him to stretch out his legs in striding, while the 1 arms have moved with an easy upward swing. At the sprint the tired muscles more or less go out of action, and there comes into play either (see · chapter on Sprinting) Mussabini's cross-arm action and foot-close-to-the– ground stride, or Paddock's lifted knee and upper-