Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

204 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS should be shifted in the direction in which they are leaning; this, of course, will necessitate sending the shoes back to the shoe-maker. In the ordinary way six spikes in the sole are the proper number-two set fairly close together well forward, two farther back, and two opposite each other where the sole is widest. It should be borne in mind that it may be necessary to alter the set of the spikes as the runner's powers of sprinting improve and he learns to run well up on the toes. The first-class runner, who manages to get right up on the toes all the way through a sprint, may find it beneficial to have a very short sole with only four spikes in it ; but this is only for the very select few. In the ordinary way the athlete should not try this unless advised to do so by his trainer. It is almost necessary for the sprinter to have two pairs of shoes, (a) with !-inch spikes for wet grass or badly laid cinders, (b) his regular shoes with !-inch spikes for a good track. The shoes must be made so that they will fit tight round the top and with plenty of space for drawing the eyeholes towards each other; the laces themselves should be of whipcord, which is not so likdy to break as the ordinary shoe-lace. The same style of shoe, but perhaps a trifle less tightly fitting, will do for the 440 yards and 88o yards runner. (c) Runners on the ~1·ack at all distances over a mile require to have well-fitting shoes, but so con– structed as to give perfect freedom for the expansion and contraction of the front part of the foot and the toes as the sole comes down on the cinders. The shoes should never be so tightly laced as to interfere with the circulation; the sprinter can stand it in his