Why? The Science of Athletics

CHAPTER IX FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATION TO COMPETITION Elimination of Carbon Dioxide-Tidal Breathing– Scandinavian Method-Adjustment of Heart Action-Lubri- . ca tion of Muscles. Elimination of AT the risk of repetition the reader is Carbon reminded of all that has been written already Dioxide in this book concerning the vital importance of the elimination from the system of carbon dioxide, when maximum athletic performances are hoped for. And again, the point is emphasized tnat it is the duty of the blood net only to bring oxygen to the working muscles, but also to carry away carbon dioxide, which, as we have seen, is passed from the blood into the lungs and is then exhaled. It is this carbon dioxide which stimulates the respiratory centre in the brain and causes the lungs to labour. From what has been said,. it at once becomes apparent that the athlete who goes in for distance running must develop large lung capacity and full permeability. And, since the ready elimination of carbon dioxide is such an important factor of success, it follows that a man's powers of endurance must be directly affected by anything he can do to bring the greatest amount of oxygen into his lungs and thence into his blood stream. That is why Paavo Nurmi, and nearly all the Finnish distance runners, have adopted a peculiar running style of their own in which the arms and shoulders are slightly elevated 'to produce expa.nsive chest development and full extension of the thorax. Running should be done with the thorax expanded, because constriction is detrimental to proper breathing, 143