Running Recollections and How to Train

CHAPTER XI. LIKE a bombshell into themidst of the athleticworld came the news that Bradley, Bacon, Watkins, Crossland, Blair, and Downer were suspended for ever and a day from com­ peting at amateur sports. To those who were in the know, the news came in a muchless abrupt fashion. I myself had been warned for weeks before it really happened. Blair was not very long in getting reinstated, but his brother is a barrister, and pleaded his cause sowell, that the dread body saw fit to rescind their action. The associationdid not offer to pay my expenses up to town, although I had travelled expressly from Lancashire. However, I consider I had fully my money's worthof fun out of the meeting. It was vastly amusing, beingsat upon by, and having to answer for my crimes to,my partners inwhat some idiotic papers termed my " nefarious transactions." I could do very little but laugh the whole time. There was such a sanctimonious look on every facein the room, that one would have thought •we were being tried for manslaughter at least. However, this action of the Amateur Athletic Association made a con­ siderable alterationin my life. 1 TURNED PROFESSIONAL. I believe I was the first of the suspendeesto take the bull by the hornsin this fashion. I was suspended ona Friday night, June25th, 1896,and on the Monday following Ihad signed an agreement to run at Gamage's Sports against Charley Barden, the cyclist, on August Bank Holiday. Shortly aftermy suspension, I thought a short holiday would do me no harm, andI went to Rhyl for a week or two.