Bredin on Running & Training

!66 RUNNING AND TRAINING. along by force and compelled to enter the grounds without going through the formality of paying. As I passed along the rows of men on the embank– ment inside the gates I overheard this remark, several times repeated, "He'll win if he tries "-1 presume referring to the local favourite, Mills. This also was instructive. Here were assembled some 14,ooo sporting and 'cute Lancashire men to see a race, yet generally holding the opinion that one of the contestants, at any rate, was likely to be a non-tryer. At the present moment public interest in pedes– trianism has greatly declined, and the reason given for this loss of appreciation is almost without exception, that it is due to frequent "crooked" matches. But whilst granting this may be one cause, I think there are two others equally relevant-namely, that there has been a surfeit of rna tches, and also that, owing to the want of new blood, the leading men who wish to continue running are obliged to perpetually compete against one another. During this race I broke down in one of the muscles in the thigh, an old weak spot. On the following morning I could hardly bear to rest the weight of my body on the left foot. Bolton being near Rochdale, I had decided to remain at the latter town for the ensuing week, and a most dreary week it proved. Sam urged me to let the Downer match go, and pay forfeit; but the ground was hired and expenses for advertising incurred, so that in addition to the loss of the £so staked with the Sporting Chronicle, I must have weighed out an extra £25 or so.