Running requires no skill

Just about any sporting skill is 'merely' the result of countless practice and drills so that it becomes second nature, and as 'natural' and instinctive as running is for a runner. Roger Federer hitting the perfect backhand is an ingrained skill that's the result of literally performing near the exact same physical motion maybe a 100,000 times (and obviously some genetic aptitude to absorb that 'skill'). But the point is that a Roger Federer backhand has almost literally no relevance to the real world, neither does an NBA players ability to slam dunk etc. At least running fast does.

Coevett wrote:

Just about any sporting skill is 'merely' the result of countless practice and drills so that it becomes second nature, and as 'natural' and instinctive as running is for a runner. Roger Federer hitting the perfect backhand is an ingrained skill that's the result of literally performing near the exact same physical motion maybe a 100,000 times (and obviously some genetic aptitude to absorb that 'skill'). But the point is that a Roger Federer backhand has almost literally no relevance to the real world, neither does an NBA players ability to slam dunk etc. At least running fast does.

False flag. No one is saying running isn't an activity that helps people in their lives. It's also a fundamental in many sports.

It just requires no skill.

So the brain isn't involved in running? Ok genius thanks for the heads up.

brain user wrote:

So the brain isn't involved in running? Ok genius thanks for the heads up.

Running requires no skill, but does require a brain. There you happy, son?

Motor skills. Look it up.

Ultra or Die wrote:

Trail running is a skill. But not road running, or oval running.

Trail running you have to be careful for tree roots, rocks, steep uphills, downhills, etc. Mud, river crossings.

Running on roads. Nada.

Sorry, no skill there either. A little bit of skill on river crossings if you're talking about fjording a river, i.e. no bridge access. Replace tree roots and rocks with cars, people, and sidewalks and really tree roots and rocks are much easier as they don't move. Therefore trail running requires even less unless you're getting into orienteering which you didn't mention.

Trail running is basically a hobby jogger activity. A few competitive athletes that are highly conditioned but can't compete with the big boys in the marathon. Put any WC marathoner on a trail run and he would devastate the field.

Running is chiefly about physical talents - speed, strength and stamina - enhanced through training. Only some of that training will be seriously technical, as it may be for sprinters and hurdlers, for example. In fact, if distance runners are concerned with technique I would suggest they don't have much natural ability. The best of them are naturals. "Skill" sports, on the other hand - like golf and tennis - require countless hours learning highly specific techniques, as much as those sports may also require advanced physical abilities when played at a high level. These are skills that are like learning to play the piano; running is definitely not like learning to play the piano. The beauty of running is that it is as natural an activity as can be perfomed by anything with legs. Cheetahs are pretty good at running - but not generally known for their ball skills.

Sherpa! wrote:

Ultra or Die wrote:

Trail running is a skill. But not road running, or oval running.

Trail running you have to be careful for tree roots, rocks, steep uphills, downhills, etc. Mud, river crossings.

Running on roads. Nada.

Sorry, no skill there either. A little bit of skill on river crossings if you're talking about fjording a river, i.e. no bridge access. Replace tree roots and rocks with cars, people, and sidewalks and really tree roots and rocks are much easier as they don't move. Therefore trail running requires even less unless you're getting into orienteering which you didn't mention.

Trail running is basically a hobby jogger activity. A few competitive athletes that are highly conditioned but can't compete with the big boys in the marathon. Put any WC marathoner on a trail run and he would devastate the field.

Wrong. In races, there are no cars, etc. Bombing a downhill with scree, (not to be confused with Cavanagh's buddy Squi), roots, etc. definitely is a skill that takes practice.

You can't do that at 7months old, like you can running.

Google proprioception, you might learn why trail running requires skill, and road running does not.

Next.

Nah, not really. I've ran on roads and on trails. Not just trails in the local park but up in the Cascade mountains. Neither took any great skill but it does take training and motivation.

The actual speed of the ball when it reaches the plate is far less than 100 mph.

Sherpa! wrote:

you dress yo mammie wrote:

Wrong. In races, there are no cars, etc. Bombing a downhill with scree, (not to be confused with Cavanagh's buddy Squi), roots, etc. definitely is a skill that takes practice.

You can't do that at 7months old, like you can running.

Google proprioception, you might learn why trail running requires skill, and road running does not.

Next.

Nah, not really. I've ran on roads and on trails. Not just trails in the local park but up in the Cascade mountains. Neither took any great skill but it does take training and motivation.

Running does take a lot of skill. However the NUMBER of skills is greater in other sports!!!

Good post.

However consider that Jimmy Connors used the same grip for both his backhand and forehand and he

is one of the all-time greats. Whatever sport you play it generally takes many years to master it.

It does not matter if you are a pole vaulter or a distance runner. Sorry me chappees...all of it takes skill.

Ultra or Die wrote:

Trail running is a skill. But not road running, or oval running.

Trail running you have to be careful for tree roots, rocks, steep uphills, downhills, etc. Mud, river crossings.

Running on roads. Nada.

Keep stroking your own ego. Trail runners are people who suck at the skill of running and try to run on mountains and go longer to make it look like they're extra special and tough. No you're not.

Truly wondering wrote:

Isn't running the one sport that requires the least amount of skill? I can't think of any other sports that require less skill than flat out running. At least a steeple chaser has to time their jumps. But runners... one foot in front of the other.

Aside from discipline, hard work, consistency, and if you're lucky god-given running genes, there is nothing to it. Being able to train high altitude, doesn't hurt either I suppose.

Look at Secretariat...what made him great? Skill? Talent? NO. Upon autopsy, they found his hearts was 2X normal thoroughbred size.

I love running, precisely because of this. There is no skill. No talent. It's just a war of wills in a way.

So, by your definition, you are equal to all the elite runners because if no talent is involved, you should be able to train to their level by putting in the miles and time.

When will you win Boston?

My supervisor knows I run a little (about 60 miles a week). She loves to rag on the lack of sophisticated technique required by running, always stating that her yoga takes power, elegance and skill. I just laugh at her and her pomegranate smoothies and her 200 pound frame and her nap sport.

I agree, running is a very simple athletic endeavor. However, putting others down because you think your sport is more complex, and therefore is better speaks to an amazingly low self-esteem.

Also, lots of fat chicks into yoga. Sure, they are flexible, and that has some amazing benefits, but don't let your friends see you with them, keep that on the down low.

about right? wrote:

Most skilled to least skilled:

Baseball (hitting a curve ball)

If it is so hard, why aren't all the pitches curves? Because, it's not THAT hard.

Still Don't Need Any Skill wrote:

EZ10Miler wrote:

No a dumb statement is to claim running is a skill and the state that it is one of "the most physically and mentally demanding sports" with completely NO reference to skill. That would be really dumb.

Nobody is saying that it's easy. Nobody says that it doesn't take strength, stamina, speed, and endurance... but it takes very very very little skill.

Exactly! A very tough and demanding sport that requires very little if any skill.

I agree that running takes strength, stamina, speed, and endurance. But what constitutes 'speed' outside of strength and stamina (which cyclists, for instance, have)? Bingo!

Especially as you go down in distance, technique and coordination derived from training (like any other technically challenging sport) becomes increasingly important to reach high levels.

Also, as a person who only played soccer competitively for 2 months in kindergarten, I could still go out and hold my own in a soccer game among peers-but that doesn't mean that soccer doesn't require skill. It means that I'm competing in a situation where high levels of that skill is unnecessary.

Running 26.2 miles in 2.01.38 required an awful lot of skill.

Sherpa! wrote:

Put any WC marathoner on a trail run and he would devastate the field.

LOL. On the small chance that you are not trolling. I think you would be surprised how many 2:05 marathoners don't stand a chance in a world class trail race.