Athletics (British Sports Library)

ATHLETICS hands are lifted, and the left leg starts the runner on his course with a vigorous push-off from the back wall of the hole, and he gains added momentum by the forward movement of the left arm, bent at the elbow, which is swung upward in imitation of the boxer's upper-cut (Sketch 3). The rear leg comes .through with a lifting upward push _of the knee {Sketch 4). In this position there should be a straight-line effect from the heel of the left foot to the back of the head, and the athlete's whole body l:?hould show a marked forward lean ; the right arm swings hard to the rear. The first stride sees the right foot chopped downward towards the track as quickly as possible. As the left leg comes for– ward for a second chopped but slightly longer stride, the right arm is punched through to the front in another upper-cut with the elbow bent. If the forward swing of the arm is made with the arm fully extended, the return movement is bound to be slower than is necessary. The third stride is almost of normal length ; the knee action is straight ahead; and in Paddock's style the hands and arms follow the same scheme, just missing the sides of the body. Those who favour the cross-arm action work the arms diagonally ·across the chest. There is this to be added about Paddock's action-that the forceful upper-cut, which all athletes use in coming out of their holes (Sketch 4), is abandoned as soon