The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-04
SHEPPARD TELLS
HOW He DOES t
Don't Take Athletics Too
Seriously" Suggests
Peerless Melvin.

New York, Nov. 4.-Want to he an
athlete? Well. don't take it too seri-
ouslS. AT least, it was by working out
this theory that Peerless Mel shep-
pard. one of the brightest stars of the
athletic constellation, became one of
the greatest athletes of his time and
stayed on the top rung of the ladder
long enough to enjoy many smiles at
the expense Of the youngsters who
sought to knock him off his exalted
perch.
Mel sheppard's defeat of the great
Mercersburg academy runner, Ted
Meredith. ali the Irish-American Ath-
ietic club games. held recently, revived
the question of how the veteran re-
tains his supremacy. Year after year
Youngsters spring into prominence
ana are hailed as the successor of the
.feerless Mel" and year after year
Sheppard demonstrates that he is still
la master.
Explained His Philosophy.
what is the answer: It was thought
that Mel himself would prove the best
~authority' so the great Irish-Ameri-
r mids1 r"n an was Ugh. OF in the
house. He laughed at the question:
at hrst' but a little later he became
serious and consented to explain h,,
phisolopsy of athletics.
u think" said Mel, that the most
important feature of success in attn
le!lGs is not aking the game too seri-
ously. have seen Youngsters by the
aundred WI" had all kinds of abilit.-
fall by the wayside simply becaus.
the became too excited over the game.
l nave made 1t a practice to never
worry e athletics and that. l be-
ileVe. Is one big reason for my sue
cess. When l find l am going back
shall quit. In the meantime we
should worry"
Docs as He Plcases.
Sheppard was asked to give an OUT
line of his training regimen. 1t didn't
take him long to reply. He has NO
training system. He runs when he feel,
IKE IT. eats what tastes good and lets
It go at that: When he trimmed Ted
Meredith and came within one second
OF his own worlds record for the $50
n arc ne donned running shoes for the
nIst tln1e In Amos a month. The fact
mat he had not practiced for tho
meeting with his most formidable
rival worried him not at all. He was
simply working out his don't worry''
Theory. ~
The career Of Mel Sheppard is n
day athletics. largely because Of his
long stay at the top Of the pile. He
is now barely 30 years old and has
been a success in athletics for more
IMAM ten Years. Until he was 10 years
old he displayed no interest in ath-
letlcs. At thai age he entered Tempt.
ne was enrolled in the preparatory
school Of Brown college. He became
interested in running. and at the Olym-
PIC games in connection with the
worlds fair at St. Louis in 1904. he
Won the int%erscholastic championship
lor the half mile and mile.
Vas Not n Member.
These Victories gave him standing
in the world of sport. but because of
a dispute with the rulers Of the ANA
teur Athletic union he was not a mem
Der OF the American team that COM
peted in thu Olympic games at Ather.s
in 1906. He was very much on the
Job in 1908. however. and at the Lon.
don olympic ~annes he hung up new
marks for the 500 and 1900 meters.
as we'll as ,being a member of tho
winning relay team. In 1910 he hung
up worlds records for every distance
from 500 yards to two-thirds of Il
1907 and 1905. he won the National
Metropolitan. Military and Canadian
championships for the half mile and
mile. In 1908 and 1910 he fell down.
put last Year he came back and won
both hands down. Today. a veteran OF
the game. he is. according to his "
belief and according to his perform
ances. just as great a runner as ever.
When am l going to quit?' asked
Sheppard in reply to a question. IT
will quit when I feel that am not
able to run up to the standard. In
the meantime a mgoing to run just
for fun. ] have seen hundreds oi
promising runners quit lust because of
one or two defeats. That is some
thing that will never worry me.
have been beaten badly many times.
but SO long as I feel l can still run
iiereditably I will stay in the game.
The big thing Is .don't u.orr,,s"S