Athletics (British Sports Library)

82 ATHLETICS will undoubtedly be found difficult to hold the " 7 in between "style of striding, but it is worth persevering for, since eight strides means taking the fences with alternate legs leading, and nine strides is altogether too slow. In view of the fact that 220 and 440 yards races in England are invariably run around the track, the low hurdler should strive. to cultivate the ability to take his fences with the left leg leading. A left rear leg action tends to throw the runner towards the centre of the track, and means a further distance to cover, and any loss in this respect must be multiplied by ten. The left leg lead brings the runner inwards towards the inner edge of the track, and he may, by sticking to the left of his lane and using an abbreviated left-arm action and a wider swing of the right arm going around the bends, save himself some yards in the course of a furlong or quarter-mile _race. The athlete must consistently build up his ability to start and to cover the initial 20 yards in fast time, and he must go over the first flight of hurdles in perfect form. If, on the approach to any flight, he finds that he has lost pace, he must chop his stride in order that he may go over with the orthodox leg leading; in this way he will over– come the difficulty of take-off and quickly regain his driving power. If he finds it absolutely