Why? The Science of Athletics

) 300 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS working for is the elimination of waste and the smoothest possible flow and return of action. Hence we must by practice so reduce wasteful movements that, in time, only those muscles will be brought into play that are DIAGRAM E required for the functions of the particular action which is being exe– cuted. The rhyth– mic ease of action which will thus eventuate is called co-ordination. Viscosity ofmuscle– substance is, of course, lessened by proper limbering ·up : This cannot be too fully em– phasized, for I have noticed repeatedly that many athletes, although apparently limbering up fully prior t9 practice or competition, seldom strike their best form before the fourth to sixth trial. Style Synotry– mous with Mechanics As can be seen from Diagrams B and ~' the way in which available force is used contributes largely to the success, or other– wise, of the runner. His idea, theoretically, should be to drive the ground back under his foot. Therefore he should be for ever striving to make his leg drive act backwards, so that there may be a com– pensatory reaction forward ; hence the necessity for pre– servation of the proper angle of forward body lean in accordance with whether one is sprinting or distance running. Mechanically, of course, the horizontal com– ponent of the applied force should be as great as possible (see Diagrams B and E). When this component functions properly one sees that smooth, apparently effortless grace of action which is the major characteristic of all great