Why? The Science of Athletics

356 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS athletes, and a variation of 2 or 3 lbs. may have no .special significance ; for a man may lose as much as 6 or 7 lbs. in a punishing long-distance race ; but, whatever the loss, a fit man should regain his weight within four-and-twenty hours ; a decrease· of 5 to 6 lbs ., which is not made up within the period mentioned, indicates that something is seriously wrong, and the athlete must either have more food or his work must be reduced, or, possibly, stopped altogether, until he begins to pick up again. Rest, in this connection, is a valuable restorative. In May rgr6, when Ted Meredith, the famous American runner, was upon the eve of making his world's 440 yards record of 47 2/5 secs., and his Inter-Collegiate 88o yards record of I min. 53 secs., on the same afternoon at Cam– bridge, U.S.A., his normal running weight was 153 lbs. Eight days before the event, however, he was weighed by Lawson Robertson, the American Olympic Chief Coach, who was looking after him, and turned, the scale at only 149 lbs. ; in other words, he was 4 lbs . light. That Saturday he ·did no training, nor ori Monday or Tuesday, since, when he weighed in on Monday, his weight showed no appreciable increase. On Wednesday the team left for Hq.rvard, where they arrived Thursday, Meredith did not have too tough a time in the heats on Friday, and won the races he was after with new records on the Saturday. Eight days' rest from training had made a new man of him. To the· circumstance of his rest from running it must be added that, with the exception of one night, he got his full ten hours' sleep every night. The Americans are very keen on this scheme of chart– ing the weights of men in training, and also their food consumption, appetite also .being a good guide to condi– tion. I have seen recently the figures compiled by Harry Hillma:n, the Dartmouth College Coach, for the College Football Team, and they make interesting reading. The season comprised 'ten weeks of intensive training,