Running does not require skill

By: Matt Brothers- staff writer
October 29, 2009
Filed under Sports

Around my neighborhood kids juggle soccer balls and football players play catch to improve their skills in certain sports. “Trackies,” on the other hand, practice running because all they really do in their events is run.  
Running is not a sport. A sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill. Running does not require any skill at all; anyone can do it on any given day. Anyone can walk out his front door and run a mile or two; it’s nothing special.
There are two reasons that people run cross country or track, they’re either staying in shape for another sport or they have no actual skills for a real sport.
My brother went to CHS and was on the soccer team, but in the winter and spring he was on track for one reason only: to stay in shape for soccer. During his senior year after the soccer season ended, he did not run track because there was no point, however there were some who stayed on track and they were the ones who were not that good at soccer. 
Usually the fastest runners are born with that talent. People can run to stay in shape and try to get better, but typically they do not greatly improve their times. The ones who were born fast do not need to practice as much and would still beat the ones who always practice. The best example of this is Usain Bolt, who goofs off during the 100 meter race, but sets world records. In real sports, practice makes perfect.
Running is a form of exercise, not a sport. People run everyday to lose weight as a part of a workout or even get faster for a real sport.
At track and cross country practices, all the runners do for the entire practice is run. Other teams spend most of their practices game planning before a certain game for key players on the opposing team to have a better chance at winning, but game planning would have no effect in running. There is no way of stopping a fast runner on the other team from being fast.
Furthermore, some may argue that relays make running a team sport. However all you do in a relay is hand off the baton; little communication is required. In real sports, teammates always need to communicate to be successful.
I get extremely mad when I see people who walk around school with their track or cross country varsity letter jackets on. They think they’re cool with their jackets labeling them as a “track star.” They are not actually stars because running is not a sport. Only real sports deserve those jackets, not runners. Anyway, who wants to run for fun?