Bredin on Running & Training

12 RUNNING AND TRAINING. fixed at fifty yards, and t hat also the instant the worsted is touched the runner can be compelled to continue for double this distance, when the time is taken it will be found considerably slower than eleven seconds. I observed the second round of the Edinburgh New Year's Powderhill Handicap of '98 very carefully from a good position on the far side of the track. Downer had been backed to win several thousands, and had qualified for this series by previously winning his heat. He was drawn with men on long marks. At the start, and for the next thirty yards, he gained on them con– siderably, and seemed to possess a good chance. For the intermediate portion of the race they appeared to run as fast as he did, and I mentally resigned all hope on his behalf, and incidentally the possibility of my winning the long odds of thirty-three to one, taken to the modest amount of Ios., that repre– sented my personal interest in the result. How– ever, at about forty yards from the tape he made an effort, and gained so quickly that I thought he might yet win . In this he did not quite succeed, though he was timed to do rather better than I 2! seconds, or its equivalent for the full distance of 130 yards, so that I had the satisfaction of witnessing a good race, and finding that my judgment had varied considerably during its progress. In leaving this subject I think we may safely con– clude that man cannot endure the excessive physical strain, even for ten seconds, that is occasioned by sprinting throughout at the utmost pace. Times, though of value in comparing past and present athletes at m.ost distances, are unreliable in