Why does running not have weight classes?

LateRunnerPhil wrote:

Kvothe wrote:

Boxing has weight classes because of the devastating effects that could result in putting two unmatched competitors against each other. In other sports, the less powerful athlete just loses, in boxing he could die or suffer serious injury.

Interesting logic, but flawed. Weight classes in boxing are there to expand the pool of competitors. Weight classes give guys an opportunity to compete that would have no chance in an open weight class.

In football, light guys can't just build a team. Like you say, they could die or suffer serious injury against a NFL team. They could very well compete against other light guys, let's say in a sub 130 lbs football league. But boxing allows athletes without the physique to compete at the highest level due to weight classes, football does not.

football is rough, but no one is trying to injure their competitors (ok some are, but they aren't supposed to be). In boxing, people litterally try to punch each other in the face. Its an order of magnitude difference in intensity.

Are there 30,000 elite marathoners in the US alone, that all run the same race? That seems extremely high.

Obviously, this would just be for those that are competitive.

If those sports were suffering from nobody caring about them, then I would say sure, maybe start another league for smaller players. But it seems those sports are not dying and generate a ton of money.

weight class wrote:

If those sports were suffering from nobody caring about them, then I would say sure, maybe start another league for smaller players. But it seems those sports are not dying and generate a ton of money.

Is track and field dying? I don't think so.

Would people care more about running if there were 5 different 100m or marathon category? I don't think so.

Well, I've only been visiting this board for a little over a year, but I see constantly people complaining about nobody caring about running, doesnt make much money, the sport is dying etc...

Honestly, I would love to watch some big dudes go toe to toe on the track. And in High School how many athletes would maybe actually sign up to run if they knew they didnt have to compete against the tiny fast guys? Probably a lot.

weight class wrote:

And in High School how many athletes would maybe actually sign up to run if they knew they didnt have to compete against the tiny fast guys? Probably a lot.

Nobody.

weight class wrote:

Honestly, I would love to watch some big dudes go toe to toe on the track. And in High School how many athletes would maybe actually sign up to run if they knew they didnt have to compete against the tiny fast guys? Probably a lot.

They have that in high school. Its called the jv race. Can't help you with your love for watching fatties though, try viewing a rock n roll marathon or half. You could even put on a tutu and join them if you like.

I seriously doubt that. Probably the teams would double in size.

weight class wrote:

Well, I've only been visiting this board for a little over a year, but I see constantly people complaining about nobody caring about running, doesnt make much money, the sport is dying etc...

Honestly, I would love to watch some big dudes go toe to toe on the track. And in High School how many athletes would maybe actually sign up to run if they knew they didnt have to compete against the tiny fast guys? Probably a lot.

Running, swimming, cycling are pure sport which will always fail to reach the same level of popularity than game sport like football, basket, tennis. Nothing we can do about it.

weight class wrote:

I seriously doubt that. Probably the teams would double in size.

Lol no. Fat kids don't want to run, period, that's why they're fat.

There is no reason for weight classes. People serious about distance running train hard and part of that training is knowing that weight is a key component for optimal performance. This means no serious runner wants to carry around extra weight because it would just make them slower than they could be. Having a “heavy” weight class is in essence just creating a class for runners who don’t want to train hard enough to achieve optimal race performance for themselves. It’s creating categories for runners who didn’t want to work that hard but still wanted to win. Who wants to watch a various lazy categories?

No need for them wrote:

There is no reason for weight classes. People serious about distance running train hard and part of that training is knowing that weight is a key component for optimal performance. This means no serious runner wants to carry around extra weight because it would just make them slower than they could be. Having a “heavy” weight class is in essence just creating a class for runners who don’t want to train hard enough to achieve optimal race performance for themselves. It’s creating categories for runners who didn’t want to work that hard but still wanted to win. Who wants to watch a various lazy categories?

Better than weight would be categories for VO2MAX values.

The >80 VO2MAX group

The 70-80 VO2MAX group

The 40-50 VO2MAX group and so on.

Some people simply don't have the talent/VO2MAX to become good at distance running, no matter how much weight they lose (yes it's part of calculation of VO2MAX but if someone already has 19 BMI and still only a VO2MAX of 45 on 70+ mpw what do you want him to do?).

Or - we could just build categories based on muscle fiber type.

In sprinting, we need a division for people with 70% slow-twitch fibers. Finishing times would be more like 13 seconds, but people could win the event that never could have a true 100m sprint, for example Mo Farah might win.

Same with 10k's - we need a 50%+ fast-twitch group, so Bolt can compete. Maybe he would be able to win gold from 100m up to 10k, in the fast-twitch category because he is such a beast athlete.

Typical LR thread based on an idea that would eliminate T&F's relatively small fan base and which the OP still gamely tries to sell.

clod wrote:

It does. For decades now there have been thousands of races with weight divisions.

Like I said, races have had weight categories for many years. Several years ago I saw the Marine Corps Marathon had over 3000 male runners registered in the three weight categories. Why do y'all keep talking hypothetically?

While we're at it we can make faster runners wear leg weights to slow them down so everyone in the field finishes at the same time. No Hurt Feelings.

If the goal is to hand out more age group medals for mediocre runners then I guess it might work. I still dont think a bunch of people are going to come out because they have a chance at a trophy because they are the only 300lber willing to finish a half.

Its about high level competition and people want to see the best. Physical non-team sports have weight classes because certain body types/frames would dominate without weight classes. Non-physical non-team sports like tennis, golf, and running are not dependent on weight classes to determine who the best is. Certain body types will be eliminated from being the best but there is some variability in winners and weights. For running bigger guys may sprint vs go long.

Dumb

Let's do it.

Let's add weight classes.

Also, let's add blood alcohol level classes.

a 200 pound runner most likely won't kill a 125 pound runner during a race. A 200 pound boxer has a good chance of literally killing a 125 pound fighter.

I agree that weight classes would make more athletes (particularly larger guys) more competitive.

The question that you have to ask is:

Do you want the level of participation and popularity of T&F and XC to become similar to that of wrestling?

That's what would happen. The whole competition process would become more obscure and participation would drop.

If you're talking about large road races, then number of people that care that care about classes is limited to those who think that they can podium for their weight class. Say in an example race you have 3,000 participants with 12 age groups and 10 people per age group who think they can podium: 96% of the participants don't care. They are there for a fun jog or to compete with their own personal time. Say you make up 4 weight classes x the 12 age groups and now you have 4x as many people who think they can podium for their age group and weight class. Now only 84% don't care. The guy who is 100th out of 500 in his age group isn't going to care that he could be 25th out of 125 in his age group and weight class.