Why? The Science of Athletics

CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATION TO COMPETITION 139 For the rest, it will be better to explain in detail, and with the aid of two diagrams, what happens in the case of second wind and how the whole issue is affected by calling upon the natural potential of the heart and the general nervous potential, which postulates a com– bination of the central nervous system potential and the sympathetic nervous system potential. Fig. I4 represents a graphic chart of the same man's_ variously progressive running of the 88o yards distance. A START TEMPORARY ACIDOSIS) s SI FIG. 14 f3 f2 f I f BOOM. In the abe>ve diagram (Fig. 14) an athlete (A) finds himself able to reach the pe>int P without undue distress, but then fatigue sets in and his speed drops rapidly until he reaches point S, which is, at that stage of his athletic career, his point of auto-intoxication. He is then put into proper half-mile training for, say, a month ; and although he begins to feel tired upon reaching point P and slows down until he reaches point F he is yet able to continue and finish in F, possibly at his· starting speed, possibly at a slightly increased speed, but always on a slightly rising curve. It is his running in F:fthat represents his second wind period. If the same athlete is trained for a further month as a half-miler he will drop down less to the point indicated