I disagree. People who are good at long distance running are (generally speaking) relatively athletic & relatively disciplined individuals. However, most choose running because they simply don't have the size required at a sport to make an immediately impact and don't realize that they can put on muscle with the right kind of training. Basically skinny kids in HS can be better than most at running on Day 1 of going out there. Whereas on the football team, they would have to learn to eat and workout, just to get pass tryouts. In my case, I weighed 98 lbs Freshman year in high school. I loved football and football was my passion. I was simply too intimidated because of my size and because it was a new school to go to tryouts for anything including cross country and too much of a space cadet to attempt to gain weight/muscle to do something I love. My parents didn't really help me out in this regard with coaching me into doing something. They simply didn't care what I did. The only reason I ever picked up running was because of an older sibling went out and I just followed. I quickly realized that I was better than most and choose to stick with it but I like to think if he or I had chosen to go out to soccer, swimming, or even a sport like football; I would have acquired the necessary size and skill to be competitive. Although I'm still called skinny, I found out later in life that I can put on muscle and retain endurance/speed so here I am closing in on 40 years old, I'm 6'0 tall 175lbs, no fat, can bench over 250 lbs and can run a 17:50 5k and a 3:00 marathon and I'm pretty darn good at football (WR/Corner). Not great numbers individually but collectively I'm in better shape than the majority of adult males but I do want to lower my PRs in the next couple of years before it's too late. I'm in awe of pro track mid distance and long distance guys like many people are of pro football/soccer players. To me, David Rudisha talent is more special than say OBJ.