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MY HRKATHLYC. SYSTKM

If you can run the last bit without breathing at all, so much thc bet ter. If not, you should take only short gasps through thc mouth, because fuli inhalations will check the pace of a sprinter.

Sprinting is a grcat strain upon the heart and lungs. Thcrefore, as soon as the winning post is passed, one should carefully take as complete respirations as possible, hands on liips and body erect. just as described in thc chapter on “ My Complete Breath.” During the first few seconds you wali perhaps be obliged to keep the mouth open, but as soon as you can restrict yourself to nasal breatliing, the better. Sprinting is not a good exercise for the respiratory organs and the heart. This sport ought, therefore, only to be in-dulged in by persons with tliorouglily sound organs, and every sprinter ought to strengthen his lungs and heart, and keep thern fit, by daily nasal deep-breathing exercises, combined with body movements.

For Middle-Distance Runners.

Botli in thc longer sprinting distances (120 —350 yards) and in the middle distances there is so great a uced for air that most athletes are here obliged to keep the mouth open and use it, together with thc nose, as passage for the air. But it should be regarded as a makeshift, and ought never to become a habit when running slowly, or on ordinary occasions. When leaving the starting maik the runner should immediately begin to pump as much air as possible into the lungs, even morę than he feels he immediately needs. If he omits this precaution, there will soon eonie an instant where he will find himself very short of air. The middle distances are a still greater strain on the heart and lungs than the 100 yards. My remarks above, on the neces-sity of having sound organs, and of strengthening these by

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