Running Recollections and How to Train

17 consented to run the race again. This action on his part was much applauded by the spectators, who a few minutes before had expressed their disapprobationin a manner more forcible than polite. Upon the run-off the same speech was made by Bob Hindie, and we were "a' nicely set" awaiting the report. This never came, and at last "Teddy" Messenger could stand itno longer. He slowly raised himself, turned round, and favoured poor old Bob with a bit of the choicest Lancashire dialect. The rest of us waited till he had finished, and Bob once again told us to get "a' nicely set." He made no mistake this time, and we got away to an excellent start. I won. Messenger was second, andBradley and Wittenberg dead heated for third place. I asked Bob afterwards whyhe had kept us waiting so long. Quoth he, "Weel, ye see, I was wantin' taemak' sairtin that nane o' you lads was gaim for a flyer like that fellyBradley did." That was the last time I ever met Bradley on handicap terms. The next occasion we ran against each other was at Stamford Bridge, in the Essex Beagles' 100 Yards Scratch. That incident, however, deserves a new chapter. I should mention that Ihad long since given up any idea of shining in the engineering line, and had been " ploughed " several times forvarious CivilService appointments. c