Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

130 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS After a trial run at full speed, the athlete should get into his sweater and dressing-gown, and then go over his own tracks to see that his striding has been regular, that he has taken off at the same distance from the hurdle each time, and that he has landed at the right distance from each hurdle; he will also be able to observe whether he has been running, taking off, and landing well on the ball of the foot through– out, and if he has got right up on his toes for the final sprint. The following is an exercise which is particularly recommended to hurdlers to enable them to throw the leading leg straight out and up and to force the body well down over it. Lay the leg which you are accustomed to throw first over the hurdle straight out along a plank resting on supports 3 ft. 6 in. out of the ground, and then press the body down over it until the cheek rests against the inside of the knee ; the effect will immediately be felt by the pull upon the muscles of the back, and also on the muscles at the back of the thigh which rests on the plank. See the "Table Stretching Exercise" in Appendix. (Note: the great secret of successful hurdling is perfect balance throughout.) As regards the ideal build of the hurdler, he should be fairly tall and somewhat slight of built; but since the distance is for practical purposes a sprint, he must be of strong muscular development, yet loose of limb, . without any trace of muscle-boundness-he must, in fact, be supple and light, yet strong. A modified exercise, such as the splits practised by dancers, is necessary to obtain the straight-legged deftness over the hurdles. The poising of the leg which first passes over the hurdle at right angles to the trunk while