It takes hard work and a well tuned cardiovascular system, but almost zero hand eye coordination. Even golf and auto racing require significant coordination.
It’s one of my favorite sports to watch, but I can see why it’s not very exciting if you don’t follow it or partake in it recreationally. Even if you do, the coverage on many events are terrible compared to other major sports.
My definition of sport is simple:
Something that gets your HR over 140-150
Anything outside of these simple guidelines is a skill, possibly an event, but not a sport.
Golf, snooker, darts, motor racing is invalid
The general public doesn’t readily see elite/pro races, but will often see the pack of fatties hurpling along at 17 minute pace at a Disney race. In that regard, I don’t really blame them for holding their opinions
While I do think running is a sport I will say its honestly the least qualified sport of them all.
There is really minimal skill involved in running. Compared to any other sport where theres so many different things to think about. Even golf is way more technical than running.
I will say that even the best athletes in the world it is 99% just putting in hours and miles with no super specific technical work. So yeah.
Runningthesport wrote:
I was discussing this with my friend who doesn’t run and they seriously said that running isn’t a sport and is just exercise. I just don’t get how people can think that, even if they don’t partake in it.
They think it is not a sport because they simply can't relate. For the American audience, for example, we would need events that make sense. 40 yard dash - folks would be amazed at how their "top athletes" get absolutely smoked by real sprinters. Bring back the mile and have good commentators and multi camera angles. Meets with fewer events and actually show the entire 5000m which can be exciting for the average sports viewer if there is good commentary. Steeple could be fun to watch if properly covered too.
The general public just needs more awareness of the pure athleticism and the racing strategies, along with the on-and-off-the-track drama and personal stories of the athletes, to get hooked on our exciting sport.
It is really just a hobby. I am now a hobbyrunner.
More people in the US watch the NFL draft then watch any track meet including the Olympics or World Championships.
Non-runners may perceive running as not being a "real" sport due to misconceptions about its complexity and physical demands. Some may view it as simplistic compared to team sports with intricate strategies. Additionally, running's individual nature might lead some to believe it lacks the competitiveness of team sports. However, running requires significant physical endurance, mental toughness, and skill development, making it a legitimate sport.
Runningthesport wrote:
I was discussing this with my friend who doesn’t run and they seriously said that running isn’t a sport and is just exercise. I just don’t get how people can think that, even if they don’t partake in it.
I have this argument over beers enough to tell you it all comes down to hand eye vs. Non hand eye sports. A lot of folks cant think of athletics without involving some sort of hand eye coordination. Which is dumb. Indeed Nascar arguably involves some of the greatest hand eye coordination there is.
Jogger262 wrote:
It takes hard work and a well tuned cardiovascular system, but almost zero hand eye coordination. Even golf and auto racing require significant coordination.
Hand and eye coordination is an interesting thought.
What about this as a counter argument: It requires a lot of coordination, but coordination is something that we have been practicing since birth. Coordination is something that has become so ingrained in us, almost like breathing, that we aren't even considering it as a key to running.
If an adult is on a recreational flag football team, each game has some intensity, some back and forth, and there's a winner and a loser. For most people who run, they go jogging a lot and occasionally they participate in a marathon. The marathon for most is some kind of celebration, but not the same in terms of a sporting event. Do you return home and say, damn it, lost again. I'm going to win next time?
Runningthesport wrote:
I was discussing this with my friend who doesn’t run and they seriously said that running isn’t a sport and is just exercise. I just don’t get how people can think that, even if they don’t partake in it.
There's no pride in the word 'sport.' Good athletes don't think about such useless things. They're too busy getting better at what they've chosen to do.
I'm a runner and don't consider it a sport. I consider it a fun pass time. I don't want h professionals do it and when 10,000 people line up for a marathon I care way more about the last finisher than the first.
Manny Bot wrote:
It is really just a hobby. I am now a hobbyrunner.
To be an authentic hobbyrunner you need to live in a welfare apartment.
