Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THE BUILD OF THE ATHLETE 5 torn constitute the well-known trouble of runners, and of sprinters especially-" a break-down." The production by imperfect feet of pains in various regions of the lower limbs will be understood when it is noted that their mechanical drawbacks throw undue strain or overstrain 1 upon the muscles and joints above. It has been almost every one's experi– ence to suffer, say, from a slight blistering of the foot, and to observe that by avoidance of pressure or friction through the over-use of muscles in " easing" the injured part, a pain or stiffness is oaused in another region of the limb. A prominent writer some time ago tried to prove that the famous half-miler, Hans Braun, won his con– tests because he possessed a certain muscle which only those who excelled in running had been en– dowed with by nature. This is not true. We are all equipped with the same number of muscles, and there is no athlete who can boast of a muscle that no one else has. Nevertheless, we must of course admit that there are many variations within the range of what is called the " normal " or natural. They are exemplified par– ticularly in such places as the ankle and the knee. One athlete, for example, may possess a leg in which the foot is so fastened on that the distance between the heel and the point of attachment to the leg is as shown in diagram I, a (which shows slowness and strength); another's foot may appear as in diagram I, b (which indicates rapidity of movement). Again, the thigh and the leg, joined or "articulated" at the knee, show 1 We must distinguish between strain and overstrain. Strain develops muscle; overstrain overstretches and damages the structure ; just as strain in mental work develops the brain, and hence the mind; but overstrain leads to a break·down of the brain, and, again, hence the mind.