For those that say track running requires no skill, I think that Morgan Uceny would beg to differ.
For those that say track running requires no skill, I think that Morgan Uceny would beg to differ.
I don't think lack of skill is what separate running from other sports. Runners didn't choose running because they lack the ability to learn the "skills" of other sports. For example, a short skinny person can't get anywhere in football. Do you think it's because he lacks the ability to acquire the skills in playing football? He may or may not. But because he lack the natural, physical talent for football, he didn't even get to prove it either way.
So, in the end, it's mainly the physical talent that decide whether you even get into a sport in the first place.
tristate wrote:
agree wrote:
Agree with this one. Running is by far the most competitive sport in the world. Bolt became a professional soccer player off pretty much zero training or experience in the game. Can you imagine how good someone like Rupp would be as a soccer player? He would literally dominate because his repeat speed ability would be off the charts compared with every single soccer player out there. I guess that he is too passionate about running though which is running's gain and soccer's loss.
Conversely,
Many top rated pro soccer players could conceivably run under 18 minutes for a 5k without really trying.
I guess that you agree with me because 18 mins for a 5k is nowhere the level required to be a professional runner even for a woman. What Bolt has done by being signed up to play in a major soccer team in a World-Cup qualifying nation would be something like a soccer player stepping off the soccer field and blasting out something like a 13 30 to 13 40 5k. I have not heard of such an event happening.
Yes, it is the sport that requires the least amount of skill
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.
Usefulness has nothing to do whether it is a skill. A trapeze act is highly-skilled. Is it useful? Break-dancing: highly-skilled. Useful? As for Roger Federer's backhand - about three people on the planet can hit that shot like he does. Anybody with legs can run.
Anyone can run. Its the next thing up to walking. Which is just ahead of standing, which is ahead of sitting and lying down.
However if you wish to run fast, you need to have some skill. Whether it be preparation, technique or whatever.
Running fast is not automatic. Talent is key, but is not the only thing.
While this is a runner's forum, it is not a fast runners forum. :-)
Running doesn't take as much skill as say, archery, but as Parker Stinson showed us in Chicago, it takes at least a basic math capability to properly compete to your potential.
agree wrote:
tristate wrote:
Conversely,
Many top rated pro soccer players could conceivably run under 18 minutes for a 5k without really trying.
I guess that you agree with me because 18 mins for a 5k is nowhere the level required to be a professional runner even for a woman. What Bolt has done by being signed up to play in a major soccer team in a World-Cup qualifying nation would be something like a soccer player stepping off the soccer field and blasting out something like a 13 30 to 13 40 5k. I have not heard of such an event happening.
This is just silly. Bolt is NOT playing for a major soccer team. He's playing for a very small team in a very minor league compared to the standard of world football. I mean, it's even lower than the MLS.
Næh wrote:
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.
Really? Which 2:05 marathoner are you referring to?
Kenyans and Ethiopians. They don't have trail in East Africa. Or hills. That's why they suck at trail running.
I think the reason why most runners are so perturbed when faced with the truth that their beloved sport requires no skill, because it's all they have.
They are spindly, twink-like, betas who have found an identify (athlete), and the idea that their sport requires no skill hurts these snowflakes.
Trail running is different. There is grit, toughness in trail running. Sage takes a beating on here, but he doesn't get upset. Why? He's not a beta-twink, like most runners who go further than 400M. He can take it because he has confidence.
Deal w/it.