Bredin on Running & Training

54 RUNNING AND TRAINING. varying this most pleasant and skilful exercise by skipping, in each case wearing a thick sweater in addi– tion to cricket costume. By these means superfluous flesh, or rather fat, is quickly removed, the wind therefore improved, and the muscles strengthened at the same time-the latter benefit, at any rate, being one that Turkish baths are unable to confer. This description of work is invaluable to the athlete through– out his training, if not taken to excess; especially is this the case during a long spell of wet weather, or when snow and frost make track work most disagree– able. To most men a certain amount of medicine during training is requisite, as an aid to the acquisition of good health, but strictly speaking the less any purging medicines are taken the better. Stewed fruit at meals, an apple, or half a tumblerful of hot water before leaving the bedroom, may be wisely tried before having recourse to drugs. Should these methods prove insufficient, three of Carter's liver pills taken on Satur– day night and followed by a Seidlitz powder the next morning, once every fortnight, \vill be found a thorough aperient. Sunday being a day of rest (with the excep– tion of an afternoon's walk in fine weather), any drastic effect of the latter treatment will have worked itself off before training recommences for the ensuing week. In dealing generally with the amount of work necessary to the athlete in training, for the moment including in the expression "work" running in practice, walking, and sweating exercise, I must point out that to each individual Nature will be the best counsellor, as she may be relied upon to throw out yery perceptible hints should too much work be undertaken, with regard