Bredin on Running & Training

MY CAREER AS AN ATHLETE. 125 which was then considered a somewhat lucky win on my part. One sporting paper, after a brief description of this race, concluded by the following noble words : " The enthusiasm that prevailed whilst the race was in progress was almost indescribable. Kibblewhite and Bredin were the popular idols of the hour." I like that term "popular idols of the hour," but to slightly misquote the poet, " Words, idle words, I know not what they mean." My experience of figuring for the moment as a little tin hero is principally associated with numerous forcible smacks on the back administered by well-meaning but mistaken spectators, who appear to consider this treatment of the highest benefit to a panting and puffing athlete, in assisting him to recover his wind-an aid, however, that I should always have been most happy to forego. As old Nat once observed in relating the commencement of a fight, '' Me and old Tom-as does a bit of touting-was standing together having a drink, and as I noticed he was a bit down in the mouth, I just says, to cheer him up a bit, 'Never mind, luck'll change; maybe when you gets home you'll find the missus has sloped with the lodger '-they did take in a lodger, Mr. B.-and would you believe it, without a word of warning, he ups and gives me such a blank" (only he didn't say "blank") "punch on the nose! Now, I didn't want it; I could have done very well without it," etc. The South London Harriers, always anxious to include a good sporting event by way of a level race in their programmes, gave a similar scratch race at their autumn meeting about a month later, when Kibble– white, on trotting first to the mark, was greeted with