Bredin on Running & Training

MY CAREER AS AN ATHLETE. 139 at Hampden Park, Glasgow, and was beaten four yards by Downer in 26 5 sees, but subsequently won a 6oo yards handicap in the Scotch record time of I min. I2f sees. This match was the commencement of an almost uninterrupted series of defeats in the future, owing partly to my losing a little speed, but principally to the fact that whenever the distance was lengthened in my favour after a reverse Downer improved most regularly and systematically. It was not until some years later, when we had reached 500 yards, that I at last found a distance over which I could rather more than hold my own with the Scotchman. Inhabitants of that country, forming a part of the United Kingdom, which is famous for porridge and whisky are usually cautious folk, not easily aroused to a state of enthusiasm-" phlegmatic" might be the word to express my meaning; but the following poetical description, written by a Scotch reporter, seems too good to be allowed to pass unnoticed; it refers to the 6oo yards handicap that I have just mentioned: "Bredin had another very flattering reception at the finish, those on the members' stand shouting themselves hoarse and waving their hats and umbrellas frantically. It was one of those sights which give a picturesque embellishment to the incident which called forth the demonstration." Reader-I will not add the "s" but if there is one truly persevering mortal who has struggled along so far with me-cannot you imagine those members on the grand stand, a hat in one hand (surely it should have read "bonnet" ?) and umbrella clasped in the other, acting the part of anima t ed windmills ?