Running Recollections and How to Train

93 Meals never trouble me at any time. So long as the cooking is good—and at the Albion, Rochdale, it is above reproach—I don't care what' I eat. Chops, or bacon and eggs, followed by a little marmalade, used to form my breakfast. Dinner would consist of a cut off a joint, or some chicken, followed by a milk pudding, stewed fruit, etc.; while for tea I woiild have either fish, poached eggs, sweet­ breads, or—in fact, anything light. I would only occa­ sionally have supper, and then light, fora good night's rest is a most important factor in training. Of course, this sort of preparation would not suit every­ body; in fact, very few pedestrians like their pistol practice in the afternoon ;but I must be built in a contrary mould, for I certainly prefer it, and, what is more important, thrive on it. It is, moreover, not to be expected that all budding champions canbe sent away for a five or six weeks' prepara­ tion. One must bevery careful to avoid doing too much track work. Pistol practice, too, must not be indulged in too frequently, or that " hete noir " of the pedestrian—a breakdown—may ensue,and then farewell to training for weeks, or perhaps months. In fact, most trainers opine that a couple of shots perdiem is amply sufficient. Most athletes, amateurs especially, can only afford time to run once a day, in which case one pistol crack, followed by an easy canter of from 120 to 200 yards, is sufficient three days out of the six, two pistol cracks at about 60 being sufficient for the other three. Of course, the work must vary according to circumstances, and according tothe man's strength. Some men, too, can stand, in fact, require, a lot more work than others. However, with the exercise of a little commonsense, the runner cansoon find out what suits him best, as well as his best distance. Dumb-bells