high mileage equals real work wrote:
geetar wrote:I don't know if running attracts OCD types or if the sport makes people this way, but man do we have a lot of 'em.
When I was coaching HS cross country and T&F, I had several kids on the autism spectrum. They were joys to coach, possibly because they were so focused and obsessed with running, as autistic individuals tend to be about everything.
Every one of them THRIVED in distance running. Not that they were all great, but they and their parents all said they had found their 'thing' after failing in other sports and activities. Make of it what you will.
Its because it's one of the few sports where even if you suck you still get to compete and one where one can focus on pure volume, even if they lack speed, i.e the important part of being a competitive runner.
In basketball you can just go shoot a million balls, but if you're 5'8 and can't play def, you won't make the team. fball- all skill & sized based as well. throwing 500 passes a day means nothing if you're 5'6 125 lbs.
I'd say running, swimming, diving, gymnastics, golf lend themselves to where the overly obsessed can do well even if they lack real talent. One can compensate for talent by "over doing it" and reach a small modicum of success.[/quote]
So in other words, It's a real sport where hardwork pays off and you can't just sit on you arse and get a pass on your natural abilities.
Sounds about right.[/quote]
If you think great athletes in other sports besides running get that way by sitting on their arse, you are the worst kind of obsessed, inferiority complex-wearing distance geek.