Why? The Science of Athletics

338 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS and chilly English Championship day, when Dr. H. A. Spark, one of our all-round representatives at the Olympic Games in 1924, took a hot shower before going out to throw the hammer; it was a risky proceeding, in my opinion, but it certainly produced the effect he was after that day. There can be no doubt, I think, that the Psychological warmth o( bright sunshine and the comfort Aspect of the balmy air have a quite definitely joyful influence on the athlete, who not only feels "good" in the sunshine, but enjoys being out in the open, instead of being cooped up in a dressing room, all too often stinking of sweat and embrocations, and who likes, too, to lie about the ground talking with his friends, · without having to keep too carefully wrapped ·up. This joyful feeling, however, sometimes leads to lack of care. A man will wait about on the ground with his head fully exposed to the sun; which is unwise ; while people like jumpers and hurdlers, much of whose success may depend upon the accuracy of their eyesight, forget that it is just as necessary for the athlete to keep his spine covered, to wear a panama hat and a pair of green glasses, while waiting to compete on a hot bright day, as it is for him to be :well wrapped up in cold weather. Performance Affected by Climate The way that records were broken in the hot sunshine and the splendid air of Cali– fornia during the Olympic Games of 1932 proves, I think, that climate has a definite influence upon athletic performance. In such a place it would be no difficult matt@r to keep the blood at its normal human body temperature of 98·4 degs. Fahrenheit. Whereas a man finding himself in surroundings where the temperature is low very naturally shivers, stamps his feet or beats his arms across his body. He does so because that involuntary shiver has given him Nature's warning that he should take exercise, in order that the temperature of his body may be raised to the proper level by increasing the combustion in his muscles. When, on the other hand, a man finds himself in too