Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

20 SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS the left foot. This position varies according to the ease and freedom assumed, .and so on. As the sprinter "gets set," he should easily poise himself forward (fig. 4). With his increasing efforts to spring from the mark he places himself in an attitude whereby he nearly loses his balance or equilibrium, and the instant the pistol goes he drops forward to catch up his equilibrium. This he does for many yards "out of his holes," and gradually straightens himself to the true sprinting position. Balance and accuracy of direction without deviation to the right or left is attained by practice. The greater the artist in sprinting, · the more any irregularity of ground or ill condition of the same is likely to throw ·him immediately out of his stride, and consequently out of the contest. The hinder foot must be placed in· a direct line to the stride which is taken at the start. There must be no loss of time by swinging the hinder limb forward in a semicircular manner; it must come from the hinder hole to grip the track. Many athletes of experience take. two or three deep inspirations and expirations,· so that they oxygenate the blood by allowing .pure air to fill the lungs before a contest. It must not be forgotten that in respiration there is always residual air in the lungs. You cannot expire to the extent that all air is emptied by expiration. The tip of breathing deeply before a competition is much to be recommended. . In this practice the oxygenation of the blood lessens the necessity for such a frequent. renewal of air. On the command" Get set," and before the knees leave the ground, the weight of the body is pushed slightly