Modern Athletics 1868

86 MODERN ATHLETICS, which time must be reduced by three mimites or more after the pedestrianhas become accustomed to his work. When a mile, therefore, canbe performed in five minutes, longer runs may be tried according to the length to bo run in the contest. Two and three miles are frequent distances with amateurs, but beyond four miles few amateur races of note have occurred. In all long dis­ tance races a man scarcely ever wants to run more than one trial before the day, as he onlyuselessly tires himsell by so doing. The fastest running timeast all distances wilbl e found at pages 115 to 119.