Bredin on Running & Training

174 RUNNING AND TRAINING. track, though I was willing to give him his revenge in his own country; but after some time he wrote from America saying he thought there would be little interest in such races, so the contemplated trip fell through. The next event of importance was Bacon and Tinder's race for the mile championshipatRochdale on the 7th of May, '98. This race was also one of a series of three, for £Ioo a side each race, at one, two, and three miles. The attendance was numerous and speculation very heavy. Bookmakers were plying their trade who are never seen at foot-races. A substantial bet either way seemed to make no difference with regard to the odds. At the start Bacon was favourite, with six to four on. I do not remember the time for the first quarter, but Tincler led at half distance in a little better than 2 mins. 10 sees.; he then started racing in earnest, and completed the second half of the distance in 2 mins. 6~ sees., winning by over fifteen yards . This was the fastest mile I have seen, returned at 4 mins. 16-g. sees. Had the winner run out from the start, I believe George's record would have been very closely approached. In the second race between the men, over two miles, Tinder won with comparative ease in 9 mins. 19g sees. For the concluding race at three miles Bacon wisely paid forfeit. During the summer of '97 I left London, and have since resided at some distance from a track, practising running on country roads, and certainly my first two matches under these conditions seemed to prove that a cinder-path, though much to be preferred, is by no means indispensable to the development of speed. After some ten weeks' training, I met Downer at Barrow, on Boxing Day, over a distance of 500 yards