Why isn't running glorified like other sports?

1. It's kind of boring

2. It doesn't allow gambling (game changer)

3. Many meets don't have beer/garden

4. For the common person, it is very difficult to run regularly; other sports they can at least think back to a time when they were in 6th grade playing rec-basketball and pretend like that makes the NBA more relatable.

There's not enough "situation reversal" . The "attacks" can't even be compared to what we see in cycling, where we see multiple attacks from different people etc.

And it's very monotonous, either the guy goes just a little faster and wins, or someone else does.

I don't agree however that it's not relatable. I think it's one of the most relatable sport, in particular in the way that it's one of the easiest sport to compare yourself to the champions. It's all about time. Whereas you can't really compare how good you are compared to Lebron (basket) or Nadal (tennis).

runbeast wrote:

I don't understand the world glorifies sports with balls especially in America, why isn't running glorified as much, it's the most mental, physically exhausting sport there is, no breaks, no relying on teammates, multiple events to specialize in based on your genetics unlike most sports, it's just so pure nothing and beautiful.

Who cares how well your dribble, throw, kick, nothing surpasses the old classic race of champions!

The masses get excited by team sports with a game of a specific duration. Thus, football, basketball, baseball, and soccer get attention. Individual sports like running, but also skiing, tennis, and F1 racing don't.

Most people get excited about sports when it's their school, city or country against "them."

That's why track is glorified during the Olympics, but not any other time.

From a spectator point of view. Running is way more boring than Baseball which is very boring.

You can't identify with a team which is a huge part of that whole "Sports" experience.

Track running is a very very niche sport for some ivy league school participants. Tickets for track events are expensive and you can't really watch anything on the internet unless you have paid for that streaming service.

Running is great for everybody who is doing it. A spectator sport it is not.

it's boring

Because watching running is a snoozefest for most. There are no "wow" moments in running. A come back from behind is about as good as it gets and that just can't compete with a diving catch or a buzzer beater or an awesome move between defenders

Also, 130lb males aren't exactly the most marketable thing on the planet. Especially when the best talents are often foreign. Not trying to offend but it is what it is. Woman want to watch a hot guy and men want to watch an alpha male

It is glorified. Its literally everywhere. Parkrun was front page news the other day ! The only other sport that comes close is Football.

Everywhere you look they're advertising and promoting running!

And what makes it even better is that they are promoting actual participation. Not just watching someone else participating.

Would you rather the sport was like Gridiron or Baseball - a joke sport in most countries because no-one actually plays it, and the "World Champions" are universally recognised as hollow victors? Oh hey but its well marketed in a couple of countries.

runbeast wrote:

I don't understand the world glorifies sports with balls especially in America, why isn't running glorified as much, it's the most mental, physically exhausting sport there is, no breaks, no relying on teammates, multiple events to specialize in based on your genetics unlike most sports, it's just so pure nothing and beautiful.

Who cares how well your dribble, throw, kick, nothing surpasses the old classic race of champions!

We have had this type of thread countless times. Running is not a spectator sport. It is strictly a participant sport.

End of discussion.

krispy kremlin._._._._. wrote:

1. It's kind of boring

2. It doesn't allow gambling (game changer)

3. Many meets don't have beer/garden

4. For the common person, it is very difficult to run regularly; other sports they can at least think back to a time when they were in 6th grade playing rec-basketball and pretend like that makes the NBA more relatable.

I was about to say because it's about as exciting to watch as a swim meet. But you beat me to it. Same reasons if you're not a swimmer or runner.

krispy kremlin._._._._. wrote:

1. It's kind of boring

2. It doesn't allow gambling (game changer)

3. Many meets don't have beer/garden

4. For the common person, it is very difficult to run regularly; other sports they can at least think back to a time when they were in 6th grade playing rec-basketball and pretend like that makes the NBA more relatable.

Yeah, this is a pretty good answer. I think running even lags behind horse racing in terms of popularity and entertainment value.

It seems like people want to be entertained for a few hours, and that is only going to happen if a game is a few hours long. You can't keep people's interest for a few hours with event that only last minutes at a time.

Sure, you could argue that the NFL and baseball only have a few seconds of action at a time with looong boring pauses in between, but I guess the people continue watching because there is a continuation of the same game. I don't know. Most people are idiots, after all.

Low prize money. Why televise or stream an event where the winner will win $500-2000 for winning a half or marathon. That is the case with the overwhelming majority of races in the US that even bother with a prize purse. Plenty of people make in a week what guys are training over a thousand hours of years to earn in a race.

The vast majority of sports aren't "glorified" more than running. Think about all the sports your university has. Does your school's crew team get rock star treatment? How about the fencing squad? The volleyball team?

Sure, running isn't as "cool" as football, but the inferiority complex isn't really necessary. There are a thousand sports out there, and running isn't any lower on the totem pole (am I still allowed to use that metaphor?) than the vast, vast majority of them.

runbeast wrote:

Why isn't running glorified like other sports?

It's boring.

runbeast wrote:

I don't understand the world glorifies sports with balls especially in America, why isn't running glorified as much, it's the most mental, physically exhausting sport there is, no breaks, no relying on teammates, multiple events to specialize in based on your genetics unlike most sports, it's just so pure nothing and beautiful.

Who cares how well your dribble, throw, kick, nothing surpasses the old classic race of champions!

You answered your own question. Why are there so many painters, artists and hobbyists, and relatively little popular glorification of painting?

Take away the glorification and personal stories around every Olympics and to most people running by itself is just a stunt. Running is worse off than archery - at least the target creates tension and rewards precision. Runners know differently but that's how most people see running.

Also, running is central and sometimes celebrated in other much more popular sports: baseball, football, tennis, and of course soccer. The most beautiful runner I've ever seen is Joe DiMaggio. His long effortless strides made him float above the ground.

Track is to boring and predictable.

A bunch of heats then a final. All are the same.

As exciting as accounting.

This topic brings up the quote "my sport is your sport's punishment".

That reminds me of punching my teammate in the gut during soccer practice (age 11 or so). The coach had me run laps which I did comfortably and happily, running smoothly with a slight smile. That annoyed him so he stopped me after only about 1.5 laps.

The sport on a “professional” level is a joke to the general population. No one really cares about watching people compete at something that the athletes make less than what a lot of average people could earn in a 40hr work week. The major sports have an allure about them because as kids you hear about them making millions and they are real celebrities.

The body image doesn’t help either. Men are meant to be strong. Running far doesn’t appeal to much of anyone. There’s just no real skill in it. The best runner of a friend group is probably just the one who choose to use the most free time doing it.

krispy kremlin._._._._. wrote:

1. It's kind of boring.

Bingo