Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

50 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS his striding, which, as a matter of fact, is helpful to the running on the principle of the adage that " a change is as good as a rest." Reverting, however, to the topic in hand, if the runner places his foot in a hole, or on soil covering a concealed hollow where the ground gives way beneath him, he will be in a better position to brace the muscles quickly and so prevent an accident if they have been allowed to be alert and at moderate tension while running ; but if, on the other hand, he has been running as does the long-distance track runner with muscles too loose and unguarded, when the slip comes something will be pretty well sure to go, and a bad strain may result. With the ever-changing nature of the country over which the runner passes, sometimes uphill, ·sometimes downhill, there .is a very natural tendency to keep everything too loosely or too tightly braced up. This tendency must be overcome, for perfect body control is of the utmost importance, and it is impossible to regulate the movements if. the muscles are tautened up or too loosely held and not allowed to work smoothly. It will be readily realised that in this class of work, when one never knows just what is going to happen next, the balance and poise of the whole frame must be cultivated, and for this reason the arm work must be good. The arms should be carried swinging loosely from shoulder to hand, and working across the body a little. This arm carriage, however, must be natural, and never an artificial product. The stride should not be lengthened out too much, otherwise it will be found difficult to control the body,