RUNNING IN THE LAST OLYMPIAD 



387 



This straight line offers a simple approximate quantitative relation be- 

 tween record times and distances in races from 100 meters to 50,000 

 meters. 



Considering first the black dots, or world's records, independently of 

 the Olympic records, it will lie seen that between 100 and 400 meters 

 most of the records fall slightly below the straight line. This means 

 that within that range the record times are shorter, or the speeds 



420, 



Diagram showing World's Records and Olympic Records in Running Races. 



somewhat higher, than those represented by the line. Then, from 500 

 to 5,000 meters, the dots fall above the line. That is, the times are 

 longer, or speeds somewhat lower, than those prescribed by the line 

 within this range. From 5,000 to 12,000 meters, the agreement be- 

 tween the dots and the line is close. Between 12,000 meters and 32,000 

 meters, the clots again fall below the line; while beyond 32,000 meters, 

 they change sides and rise above it. 



