Bredin on Running & Training

MY CAREER AS AN ATHLETE. r6g Both sides being anxious to meet, I soon arranged with Kilpatrick's backer to contest three matches, at 6oo, 88o, and I,ooo yards respectively, each match to be run for a separate stake, after a sufficient length of time had been allowed the American wherein to become acclimatised and fit. Meanwhile, anything but satisfied with my late defeat by the Scotchman, I agreed to run him a quarter of a mile for £roo a side and the title of champion. This match duly took place at Rochdale, on the rst of May, the crowd numbering a few short of ro,ooo, and the gate receipts amounting to close on £400. The day was fine, but the wind was very strong. Downer, leading throughout, won by four yards, in 49! sees., according to the official timekeeper. Returning at once to Reading, I resumed work, this time alone, as Sam Fritty did not accompany me, though he frequently came down from London to see how the training progressed. By the end of May I was in good condition, but the American, evidently, was not, and the first of our matches was being frequently postponed, which placed me in a somewhat difficult pos1tlon. Fearing to allow myself a complete rest, I foolishly continued to walk and practise on the track as usual. With little else to do, and no restrain– ing influence, I gradually commenced to lose form, which I attributed to lack of work, and increased the latter, with the result that a week before July the 31st, when we decided our first rna tch, I was in a stale condition, and was seized, whilst sprinting, with a pain in the chest, which failed to disappear by a couple of days' absence from the track, as I had expected would