Bredin on Running & Training

CHAPTER III. HALF-MILE, MILE, AND DISTANCE RUNNING. HALF-MILERS rnay be said to proceed from three distinct classes of runners-( I) the striding quarter– miler; (2) the fast miler; and (3) the half-miler proper. In reviewing these classes I will mention a few names of past athletes who stand out as prominent examples in each category. Myers, the American, and both H. C. L. Tindall and latterly W. Fitzherbert, can be taken to represent the best-known examples of men who could sprint moderately well, and run very good quarters and half-miles. Although the last-named did not ever take the trouble to lengthen his distances covered in practice with a view to staying throughout half-a-mile, had he done so, however, it is beyond doubt that races at 6oo and 88o yards would have been even better suited to him than the shorter one of a quarter. Tindall himself ran only half a mile on few occasions, and I min. 56i sees., which he accomplished in the '89 championship race, can hardly be taken as repre– senting the limit of his ability, for it was made after winning the quarter in 48! seconds, but it nevertheless stood for a best on record at these meetings until I893, and has only twice been surpassed since that date. But doubtless the best half-miler, and in fact all-