Rowing and Track Athletics (extract)

Track Athletics which makes his body not a mere machine of convenience, but a thing in itself fair and fit consciously to express beauty. By such magic are his mute limbs given leave to speak; and he may, so to speak, run his Parthenon friezes and his Praxiteles marbles, his Apollos and wind– blown Nikes, if he cannot paint or chisel them. Even though a man consciously feels none of this, and but enjoys his running for running's sake, he yet has within himself a simple pleasure that none can take away. The level beach in summer and the glory of its gold and azure, the open country in autumn, with frost in the air and the smell of burning leaves - these are the runner's sport– ing machinery, his yacht and hunter and motor car and coach. He can climb J ungfraus enough in a ten-mile chase across the rolling hills of his own home country, and he can answer the call of the wild while yet within sight of the spires and chimneys of the town. All that he asks to be happy is a pair of comfortable shoes and a wisp of something to cover him, only God's out– of-doors and the open country.