Bredin on Running & Training

MY CAREER AS AN ATHLETE. 175 on a wet and heavy track, according to the old half– mile amateur champion W. T. Holmes nearly two seconds slow in the latter distance even during summer weather. We both arrived in that somewhat dreary town a few days before the race was decided, Downer running twice a day, whilst I only turned out two or three times, being slightly under weight, hence the knowing ones prophesied that the latter intended win– ning, and I was scarcely bent on so doing. The Scotchman started a warm favourite, and as usual made the pace until about thirty yards from home, when I caught him and won by a yard in fifty-nine seconds. It is probable that we might both of us have finished inside any existing record on a good track and in favourable weather. In my amateur experiences, always training and racing during the summer, I used to imagine that it was easier to run, or rather, that better times were performed, on a hot day than on a cold one. I have subsequently modified this opinion, and now think temperature makes very little differ– ence, so long as the track is firm under foot and wind absent; but it stands to reason that there are many more good days, athletically speaking, from April to September than during the remainder of the year. Tinder, feeling inclined to possess, if possible, all the titles of champion from half up to three miles, agreed to meet me over the former distance. This event took place at Rochdale in the spring of '98, when, after a good race, I just managed to struggle home first in r min. 56!th sees.; one yard would have about covered both of us. This I think was my last good performance, although subsequently in a match with the Welsh