Bredin on Running & Training

II2 RUNNING AND TRAINING. troopers in the North West Mounted Police, in the service of Her late Most Gracious Majesty. This Canadian would steal away from the barracks, carrying a small parcel which contained his vest, knicks, and running shoes; change behind a bush, and proceed to cover some two or three miles over the prairie, about twice a week during the summer. There were no sports held in those parts, so this man could not have practised with a view of winning prizes. He had three years still to serve in the force, and subsequently intended availing himself of the Govern– ment grant of free land offered to all men who had served their seven years ; therefore his object in running was not to keep up his athletic ability with a view to future competitions. Athletics being, as I said, non– existent, no one took the slightest interest in what most of his confreres considered a curious taste, which precluded the possibility of vanity being a leading motive, and as not a soul (to the best of my knowledge) ever had a spin with him, the pleasure of trying one's speed with another competitor was absent. In fact, every ordinary inducement that is apt to make men run was wanting in his case, except enjoyment of the physical exertion itself; so that if ever a man was justified in considering himself a true amateur, a pure lover of running, surely this Canadian " pro " was entitled to do so.