Track Athletics in Detail (extract)

36 TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL is the number to be aimed at, although a runner with a short stride has to be content with nine. The latter sometimes necessitates slowing up be­ fore each hurdle, which is fatal; and consequently it is more advisable to trainfor eight strides, in that case jumping from alternate feet. This makes a race upon a curved track extremely difficult, and is a form that should be avoided, although there are many men who are compelled to adopt it. In practice the athlete should never go over more than seven hurdles in succession, except, perhaps, once in two weeks for a trial on time, because the event is too exhausting. The footwear adopted by hurdlers is similar to the high-jumper's shoes. They are made of kan­ garoo-skin, and should be slightly heavier than sprinters' shoes. The heel should be constructed of quarter-inch leather with two spikes placed at the extremities of diagonals drawn through the centre of the heel. This precludes the possibility of bruising from the constant pounding on the jumping foot. In the toes there should be the usual six spikes. The hurdles, whether the high or the low, should be cleared by as narrow a margin as possi­ ble. From the standpoint of speed it is better to strike the top bar lightly rather than to clear it by several inches, for this margin makes a loss of time. The illustrations on pages 29 and 30 give a very good idea of the position a man should train