Running Recollections and How to Train

68 The last trial wehad was exactly a fortnight before the race, and this time we ran as we had been handicapped. Air. David Blair, a gentleman who has a great reputation in Edinburgh as a watch-holder, came to Ormskirk, onMr. Gibson's behalf, to clock us. A terrific raceresulted in tlie novice being just beaten, andMr. Blair returned the time as 5^ yards inside evens, making me do " 4inside " allthe way. Now, as this timewas 1|- yards faster than the time in which the handicaphad been won the yearprevious, itis not surprising that Mr.Gibson and Mr. Shankland should have backed me to the extent they did,viz., to win nearly .£5,000. There was a lot of talk over what sceptics were pleased to term Mr. Gibson's foolishness, but if foolishness consists oftaking 25 to 1 about a 6 to 4 chance, then I will admit that Mr. Gibson was guilty. People wonderedwhy I had not acceptedHarper's challenge to run on level terms, why I iiad not waited and gota match onwith Bannister, etc., etc. Why, the veryfact of my making these matches would have published to the world at large that I possessed greater speed than I was given credit for, the one thing we were anxious to avoid. In sporting lingo,we decided to " go f r the gloves to let all ideas of matches vanish,and go for the onebig event. The 1st of January, 1898, dawned a perfect day for a handicap, with scarcely a breath ofwind. Our party turned up at theground in good time, and we found that I had gone back in the betting to 33 to 1. This was owing to the fact that therewas a lot of money coming for other com­ petitors, chieflyHenderson, of Galashiels, and Duncan, of Langholm. The last bet made by one of our party was £100 to £3, taken by Mr. Shankland. I got through my heat fairlyeasily, doing 3| inside evens all the way, but our novice was beaten by K Sharpe, of