Running Recollections and How to Train

CHAPTER XIX. MY FIRST DEFEAT IN A MONEY MATCH. AFTER my unsuccessful attempt to win the big Edinburgh handicap, matters appeared to be at a standstill with me. 1 challenged " theworld," from 100 yards to 4:40, but found no acceptors. Harper, who only six months before had offered me one-and-a-half yards' startin 130, couldnot now see his way to run me level. A fresh challenge, extended to 500 yards, brought out my old opponent, Bredin, andwe signed articles to run 500 yards, for the championship of the worldand JuoO a side, on the Rochdale track on March 5th. I decided to train at Edinburgh, and, consequently, started in real earnest aboutthe lastweek in January, with Jimmy Duckworth, as usual, as my mentor. 1he New­ castle Sweepstake was run on the 5th February, exactly four weeks prior to the date of the Bredinaffair. 1 again turned out,though with scant hope of success, for T had only been training for a fortnight, and for 500 yards. However, I ran very well, for though 1 finished last, 1 was only a yard behind the winner, E. Massey, of Ryhope. This time, there were four competitors, includingMassey, Braithwaite ("Bridle"), and myself. We finished in the order named. The acceptanceupon this occasion was £5, with £50 addedby the promoters. Upon my return from Newcastle, I found that 1 had contracted an attack of pleurisy, andthen began achapter of accidents. That pleurisy, slight though it was, was sufficient to keepme back for a week—a seriousthing when