Athletics (British Sports Library)

116 ATHLETICS light-weight runners find a really lengthy stride makes too great a call upon their powers of en– durance. To hold their length they have all the while to call upon their mental and physical re– serves, which should, properly, be held ready to respond to a challenge or to produce the finishing burst of speed. This class are usually better suited by a fairly short stride ?~ith a quick pick-up, pro– vided that they do not use overmuch arm action. On the other hand, the bigger fellows with long legs will prefer the stretch to the patter stride, working out easily from the hips and taking one stride or two to the three strides of the other class. Throughout the race it is of vital importance to run in a state of mental and physical relaxation until such times as it is necessary to call upon one's resources for the big effort.