People may wonder why men like to run distance races. What fun is it?
Why all that hard, exhausting work? Where does it get you? Where's the good
of it? It is one of the strange ironies of this strange life that those who
work the hardest, who subject themselves to discipline, who give up certain
pleasurable things in order to achieve a goal, are the happiest men. When
you see 20 or 30 men line up for a distance race don't pity them, don't feel
sorry for them. Better envy them instead. You are probably looking at 20
or 30 best "bon vivants" in the world. They are completely and joyously happy
in their tastes, their strong and well-conditioned bodies, and with the thrill
of wholesome competition before them. These are the days of their youth,
when they can run without weariness; these are their buoyant, golden days,
and they are running because they love it. Their lives are fuller because
of this competition and their memories will be far richer. That's why men
love to run. That’s why men do run. There is something clean and noble about
it.
by Brutus Hamilton, coach of the University of California and the 1948 U.S.
Olympic track team.
