While I concede that some ultra runners are decent athletes, I don't think of ultra-running as a legitimate sport -- it's more like a general test of will/perseverance. Thoughts?
While I concede that some ultra runners are decent athletes, I don't think of ultra-running as a legitimate sport -- it's more like a general test of will/perseverance. Thoughts?
Yes.
All running events are competitions. They don't really qualify as a sport.
That's Great! Keep us updated!
Endure calmly like an old reef.
Sail calmly like a misty whale.
Endurance is an old Trail.
Powerful, misty Grass.
Why does the mainland rise?
Persevere, Jog 'til day's dawn.
Why does the Trail talk?
Where is Stoicism, the old race director!
Jetson67 wrote:
While I concede that some ultra runners are decent athletes, I don't think of ultra-running as a legitimate sport -- it's more like a general test of will/perseverance. Thoughts?
Do you know what you're talking about?
Do you know what "ultra" means?
Beyond running? What's that?
Is beyond-running a sport?
Jetson67 wrote:
While I concede that some ultra runners are decent athletes, I don't think of ultra-running as a legitimate sport -- it's more like a general test of will/perseverance. Thoughts?
So, legitimate sports are not tests of will/perseverance?
No, as a sport it's about relevant as gum boot throwing, cherry pip spitting or race walking.
Ehh, it's short for ultramarathon running. But you knew that. Troll face.
If you take the word ultra out of your post you have summed up most athletes thoughts.
No, it's not just a sport. It's a diet, it's an attitude, it's an identity. Ultra running is a way of life.
My thoughts: Do the training necessary to make the US team (or wherever you are from) for the IAAF/IAU 100 km championships. Go run the race. Come back and tell us your thoughts. It felt like a sport to me, just like D1 track and XC or road racing did.
It's all just running. Pick the surface and distance you want to focus on. No right or wrong there.
An ultra bashing thread! Couldn´t you have come up with something more original?
They've done a good job of marketing Competitive Hiking.
(No teams, no uniforms, no fans, not televised on ESPN) = Not a Sport.
EOT.
Just about everyone I've know that got into ultras used it as an activity after they were done competing or just couldn't handle racing any more.
It's something to do, there's a big community and no pressure to perform at a certain level. You just go out in the woods and jog around and hike and take in good views. Also, most of the ultra crowd is OLD like not 40 yrs old, more like 60+.
I guess that makes it the retirement home of the running world.
Ultra running is like race walking or those color runs -- a recreational diversion, definitely not a sport. Please don't confuse it with real running.
josephfishkin wrote:
Ultra running is like race walking or those color runs -- a recreational diversion, definitely not a sport. Please don't confuse it with real running.
Anything that requires a "strategy" is not real running.
just run fool wrote:
Anything that requires a "strategy" is not real running.
Regardless of whether ultrarunning is "real", you sound like a shitty runner.
Like chess it's not a legitimate sport.