My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is not a sport perhaps as popular in America as it is in England.

We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

I trained for less than three-quarters of an hour, maybe five days a week - I didn't have time to do more. But it was all about quality, not quantity - so I didn't waste time jogging, ever.

My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is not a sport perhaps as popular in America as it is in England.

Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs of the basement, and we were quite safe, but it brought home the realization. In two nights 400 people were killed in small town.

My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great stability until the last century. People lived and intermarried in small villages.