Bredin on Running & Training

I•· Iii , CHAPTER II. "ODDS AND ENDS." BEFORE the batch of suspensions in '96, fast amateur runners were not considered capable by the majority of professional watch-holders of being able to accom– plish the times credited to them by amateur time– keepers. Although this opmwn has since changed with respect to all other distances, and is modified in regard to sprint races, it still exists with reference to the latter, and not without some reason, for taking a dozen heats in a sprint handicap with an experienced time– keeper of both classes, in at least nine out of that number the amateur would make the men run from a half to one yard faster than the professional. The difference is partly caused by the one class undertaking timing as an amu sement and the other seriously, but principally due to the fact that in pedestrianism the difference of a yard between two runners, or one out of several heats being that amount better than the others, will frequently lead to large sums being speculated; so that not only has the "pro" more depending upon his ability with the w a tch, but he is apt to make all men run slowly to be on the safe side in gambling. Such a habit having become general in pedestrianism, it would be interesting to lea rn, by the aid of a timing machine,