Running Recollections and How to Train

51 I wasted no time after the decision of the heats, bntjumped, half-dressed, into a cab, and made straight for my bed at the hotel for an hour's rest. Just as I was thinking of getting up,I remembered that aglass of old port had once put some speed into meon a similar occasion inmy amateur days. Bill Harvey, accordingly,brought me a tumbler half full. " Here," hesaid, "have a drop o' this." I took the lot! I felt, as soon as the generous liquid was stowed ajvay, that 1 could run fora kingdom. When we got back to the track, the fielders were shouting " 4 to 1 Downer." I thought, " Well, if odds count for anything, I'm beat now;" but, then, that kindly old wine kept murmuring, "Never mindthe odds; get down to it." Very little time was wasted once we were stripped, andold Jimmy Young got us away to a perfect start. At 80 yards I was level with Bridle, and then drew clear away from him, winning in four yards faster time than I had done in my heat. During the whole ten years that I have been running, I never saw such enthusiasm displayed over a foot race. The palings just past the worsted collapsed with the crush behind, and the spectators, who were lining the barriers about 20 deep just at that spot, fell pell-mell over each other. One grimy collier was so overcome withexcitement, that he embracedme, and, not satisfied with that, hemust needs impress a kiss, anything biit fairy-like, upon my damask cheek. The police had to come to the rescue and make a lane through the crowd,to enable me to get to the dressing-i'oom. A huge mob, however, waited and accom­ panied me to the cab w T e had in readiness, but we managed eventually to drive off to the hotel amid peace. My share of the stake came to £90, but I was only backed to win a very small amount, my bad trial having dispelled any hopes my party may have had of my winning. E 2