Running Recollections and How to Train

115 Excelsior Baths, totally eclipsing his previous long distance performances, covering 151 miles in the allotted time, a much better recordthan hisprevious oneon the same track. In this competition he had the honour of defeating " Craig," of Inverness, or, as he is better known, George Blenner Hasset Tincler, the present day one, two, and three miles' champion of the world. In the year 1896, finding business very quiet in this country. Hurst entered for the great 25 miles Marathon Race in France, the race being from Paris to Comflaus. There were 191 starters. Hurst won easily, in the fasttime of 2 hours 31 minutes, beating all existing records, and securing, inaddition to £40 first prize, £40 for breaking the record. The same year he easily defeated Mathlin, the French champion, and also comfortably disposed of Chovolot, another champion,to whom he conceded 880yards ina race of 12| miles. In 1897 he met the celebratedrunner Watkins, atBlack­ burn, in a 20 miles race for £200, and compelled him to retire at 15 miles. On being told he need go no further. Hurst surprised the spectators by sprinting another lap (quarter- of-a-mile) and throwing a somersault at the winning post. In 1898, he met and defeated G. Crossland, holder of the 20 miles' record, ina race at ten miles for £200, Crossland retiring at six miles. Later in the same year, he again defeated Crossland over a similar distance. This sameyear he also met Bacon in a ten miles match at Ashton-under- Lyne, being beaten by a yard-and-a-half after a most exciting struggle, but he managed to get his revenge two or three weeks later by practically runningBacon to a standstill at Rochdale ina 15 miles match. His next important matchwas in the early part of 1899, when he met and was defeated by Harry Watkins, of i 2