The word "Fun" implies easy, like football or baseball. Running is anything but easy - but try telling that to someone who's never run without a ball in their hands...
I can't remember how many conversations I've had with traditional american guys (all football and baseball fans) who were entirely against considering running a sport. My simple response was "You can PLAY football and baseball, like you can PLAY checkers and video games... You can't PLAY running - that's because it's consistantly painful if you do it right."
What's funny is football and baseball (like other team sports) ARE fun - even if you lose. Whereas running... is only fun when you win - or PR. I don't think I've ever seen a 5 hour marathoner finish and claim "that was soo FUN!!!".
Though I don't think the American Mind (ESPN etc) will ever fully understand that a True Sport doesn't require pure strength or speed, but the ability of a person to overcome THEMSELF (i.e. running etc.) to achieve great things. The American Mind is all about "hand eye coordination" and "the 40 yard dash", rather then how much guts someone has at mile 26 (Or I guess we can use Mottram's updated version - who's got the largest balls at the end). Endurance Sports like running, cycling, and swimming(longer) get the shaft in American because they actually require EFFORT to succeed. No elite runner can miss days of running consistantly and still be one of the best (like many basketball, football, or baseball players). But in America, it's not about doing everything you can, it's about doing the LEAST possible to get by.
I read a statistic that stated by 2015 over 75% of America will be obese (unless something changes between now and then). Great, we'll be living in a country of fat-asses who value everything BUT their health. How many of you can relate to me when I say I have trouble finding jeans that actually FIT me (with the waist SMALLER then the length). Go to wal-mart, you'll have no problem finding 36x32, but can you find 32x36? or even 32x34? Probably not!
I will admit to being quite thin - but I also am a marathoner. I don't think I go a few days without getting some sort of comment from some morons in a car about seeing my ribs, or "Nice shorts Fag!" about my RUNNING shorts. I'm secretly waiting for the 80s to return (minus the unique color schemes...) so I can run down the street and not have some idiot with a low IQ scream like a monkey out a window at me about my running attire. 20 years ago I would've been getting compliments! Ha!
Back to topic...
"fun" implies "easy"... So yes, I agree with the original poster!