Should running have weight classes?

i can't see why not?

Are you retarded?

As a bigger runner myself (180-185 lbs when in shape), I would have hated to compete in a weight bracket. I want to compete against everybody to try to beat the field, not to be relegated to what basically amounts to a JV race. It would be more patronizing than helpful.

The wide variety of race distances takes care of the issue to some extent, anyway. I never could have been a competitive 10K guy, but I was a pretty good 800m runner and adequate in the 1500. You just have to pick an even that fits your size and speed. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but if your size and speed profile is "big and slow," you probably shouldn't be winning races.

Great idea. That way all the fatties can feel better about themselves being runners and the real runners who are disciplinied in their training and lifestyles have their accomplishments diminished by sharing the awards stand.I think having clydesdale/rhino/hippo divisions is ridiculous. Running may be for everyone, but competitive running isn't. with regards to boxing, the flyweight or welter weights can call themselves boxing champions, but that will always have an astrick by it because for the most part they would get beat around the ring by a decent number of heavyweights. A real champion boxer like a real champion runner should be open to taking on all challengers from all classes.

I'm not talking about "fatties." If you can't tell the difference between fat and muscle, you are an idiot.

Yeah and heavyweights should be the greater division than lightweights and featherweights.

If you don't understand that the way to train to be a successful distance runner is conditioning lean muscle rather than putting on muscle bulk, then you sir are the idiot.

Everyone's a winner wrote:

A real champion boxer like a real champion runner should be open to taking on all challengers from all classes.

I would enjoy seeing one of those "fake" featherweight champs bitch-slapping your "disciplined" ass.

Everyone's a winner wrote:

A real champion boxer like a real champion runner should be open to taking on all challengers from all classes.

I would enjoy seeing one of those "fake" featherweight champs bitch-slapping your "disciplined" ass.

To be fair, the weight classes should be categorized in something akin to power to weight ratios, not weight classes. This would be something like (leg muscle mass):(body mass).

It would be stupid in general to do, but if you do it, make it meaningful.

Everyone's a winner wrote:

If you don't understand that the way to train to be a successful distance runner is conditioning lean muscle rather than putting on muscle bulk, then you sir are the idiot.

Right, because Chris Solinsky doesn't train hard. He's just a fattie. Just using him as an example, but trust me, take a group of people and have them train the same, there will still be the 100-pounders and the 160-pounders. People are built differently, no matter how much they run. I'm not talking about bulking up.

we already give people medals for just finishing a marathon, or a 5k sometimes. We don't need to reduce this sport even more.

I never claimed to be a boxer, much less a boxing champion. I just made the statement that it doesn't seem right for a fetherweight/welterweight to call themselves a world champion when there are heavyweights out there who are better. But if we have a problem I'd be happy to step outside and discuss it.

lame. Should there be height classes too...maybe shoe size...stride length...

No.

So you think Chris Solinsky needs/ wants to be reclassified with other runners who weighs what he weighs? He has worked dang hard not just to be the best 160lb runner but one of the best runners period. People are built differently and some people are handicapped so that they will not ever be remotely good runners and once again while running may be for everyone, competitive running is not. Just as important is the fact that just because someone trains hard is no guarantee that they will become a good runner, because genetic makeup is very important too. People who are not genetically inclinied to be successful runners have every bit as much of a right to run as those who are genetically inclined, but they should not pretend to be champion or competitive runners. Can you imagine how boring international competition for 200lb+ distance runners would be?

I was just using him as an example of a heavier, but not fat, runner. I didn't say these divisions would apply to the elite level. I was thinking of them as sub-divisions, much like age group awards.

then who the hell cares?

How about classes based on speed?