Running Recollections and How to Train

41 After my sojourn at Rhyl, I went into semi-training for my match with Barden, which was to be decided over 220 yards, Barden to stand and mount by report of pistol. 1 beat him, with a yard or two to spare. The remainder of the summer 1 passed in going round the country, running at Scotch games. These gamesare highly diverting ;and the crudeuess of the arrangements would make the tamest official of the Amateur Athletic Association open his eyes in holy horror. Imagine arough stubble field,and a " track" staked off thereon about 200 yards to the lap, with square corners, and the going like a switchback railway, and you will get a slight idea of what Scotchgames ai'e like. The vileness ofthe track, however, is only one of the evils. The startsare often paced out, and the memberof the band who performs on the drum often officiates in the capacity of starter, his instrument taking the part of a pistol. I have run at games where the signal was given by an individual whowaved his handkerchief (a red one) threetimes, the third time being the signal to "go." On one occasion, in a 120 yards' handicap, we had to turn sharp round a post after 50 yards, the two straights beingat an angle of 45 degrees. However, Scotch games ai-e, on the whole, good fun. The best known " peds," as a rule, " stand in " with one another, which means they agree to divide among themselves any prize-money the school may win. The poor " locals," as arule, have to be content with what is left. This " standing in " robs the games of anything like real sport, there usually being but one trier in each event. In fact, the only tussles are between the regular professionaland the poor local, who believes he can run, and insists upon turning out year after year at his own games. But the starting is the funniest part of the whole affair. No one, who is " on the job," ever dreams ofwaiting for the