Bredin on Running & Training

RU NNING AND TRAINI NG. depending on their individual judgment during running than those competitors who meet one another on equal terms. Although many runners may start from the same mark in handicaps, and consequently be in a similar position with regard to one another as the same number of athletes are in a level race, the former, unless absolutely on the limit, have to consider those men both placed in front and behind them; but the latter, for the prior part of the race at any rate, are not compelled to run fast by the fact of having to overtake, or the fear of being overtaken by, other runners on longer or shorter marks. The striding quarter-miler should run as slowly as it is possible for him to do with safety-that is to say, without allowing his rivals to obtain too long a lead at any period of the race. He depends on finishing speedily, and must therefore keep a watchful eye on the leaders or leader, and gradually commence to lessen any space between him or them after about 500 yards has been covered, endeavouring to be within a couple of yards of the front man fifty yards from horne. Judg– ment with him is necessary for knowledge of the pace at which the race is being run, so as to prevent him falling into the error of allowing himself to be unduly hurried along by any of the other competitors covering the first quarter in a very fast time. A most useful check in this respect can be given the striding man by having his time for the first lap shouted to him in passing the quarter mark. On tracks that measure four laps to the mile, which is so frequently the case, this informa– tion is easily imparted, though if one carefully considers the matter surely such a proceeding may be almost