RUNNING IN THE LAST OLYMPIAD 39 J 



tors' losing interest if the flag removed all temptation from the runners 

 to jockey for first place, thus tending to sustain monotony at the ex- 

 pense of sport. Whether these dangers are serious could only be de- 

 termined by actual trial. 



It would, of course, be possible to reduce the speed of the flag, by 

 preconcerted arrangement, to a more readily attainable local record, in 

 place of a more ambitious world's record. One per cent, reduction in 

 speed might make a very marked difference in this respect. There can 

 be little doubt that the flag and motor-driven wire would be a useful 

 device in the training of runners for the track at suitably graded speeds. 



The same line of reasoning applies to other races. If the world's 

 records in walking, swimming, skating, rowing, horse-running, horse- 

 trotting and horse-pacing be similarly analyzed, and plotted on loga- 

 rithm paper, the points will be found to fall very nearly upon a straight 

 line in each case. 2 Moreover, all of the straight lines have the same, or 

 at least substantially the same, inclination, or represent and involve sub- 

 stantially the same law of fatigue. The only exception is found in 

 bicycle-riding. 



2 " An Approximate Law of Fatigue in the Speeds of Racing Animals," by 

 A. E. Kennelly, Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

 Vol. XLII.j No. 15, December, 1906. 



