Bredin on Running & Training

HALF-MILE, MILE, AND DISTANCE RUNNING. 47 themselves much harm from undertaking a considerable amount of exertion without the necessary training. We not infrequently hear of sprint handicaps at amateur meetings falling a prey to the " 'pro' in dis– guise," but it is rarely that a mile race suffers a similar fate. Whether this is due to the fact that there are comparatively few professional milers, or that the amateurs are too "hot" from their marks to allow their professional brethren any chance of success com– mensurate with the risk, is an open question. However, some few years ago a certain '' gaffer '' took down to an important amateur meeting in the provinces two " pros," one for the sprint and the other for the mile, with the intention of slipping the latter only in the event of an " accident " to the former. This neces– sity unfortunately arose, and (much against his inclina– tion) the miler, a well-known Londoner, capable of 4 mins. 30 sees. or better, was started. The backer had previously worked up an artistic entry form which was the means of procuring his protege 190 yards start. Money was freely put down, and, thanks to the lavish manner in which a North Country amateur was also backed, the Londoner's "gaffer" was enabled to invest a respectable sum at odds varying from 5 to 1 to evens. With a smile both childlike and bland, and a pocketful of oblong slips of cardboard of varied hue, he proceeded to take his stand in front of a large board bearing the legend "Betting strictly prohibited," there to await the result with a considerable degree of confidence. It was soon apparent that there were virtually only two men in the race, the Londoner and the North