Running is one of the simplest sports there is. Put a pair of shoes on and move your legs, that’s about it. There is competitive running, casual running and many other forms. A few weeks ago, I wrote on why golf is a grueling sport. This time, I am going to go into detail about why running is one of the most grueling sports.
1. Motivation
It can be extremely difficult to get the motivation to get started. It doesn’t have that fun aspect that basketball or football has. Most people do not really get excited to run -- it just kind of happens. Competitive wise, most races are very early in the morning. It can be hard to build motivation to start running. When you do start running, it is so easy to just stop and give up. You feel sick? You feel tired? It takes motivation to keep going and stay strong.
2. Terrain
This isn’t football or basketball where you play on a perfectly flat surface the whole time. Hills are a huge part of running. Also running in mud, gravel, dirt and concrete makes things so unpredictable. Sure, it can rain on a football field, but with running there are so many variables that come in effect.
3. Rest
Just like any other sport, you need so much rest after running. The body and its muscles need the time to relax and recuperate. Not to mention the necessity of eating the appropriate amount of food and drinking plenty of water afterwards. There is so much involved with your body before and after a race that the slightest thing gone wrong can lead to injury.
4. Injuries
Just as any other sport, injuries are a huge part of running. Putting so much effort and energy into a run, and pressuring your feet so much, you can easily incur leg or foot injury. Dehydration plays a huge part of running, as does knee concerns. For being such a non-contact sport, the amount of possibilities for injury are relatively high.
5. Practice
The amount of practice it takes to be successful often exceeds other sports. You get what you put in when it comes to running. If you run 10 miles a week, don’t expect to be so great. If you put in 75 miles a week, it will show. Running is all about mentality and hard work. Just like other sports, there is a considerable amount of devotion and dedication needed.
Being a runner in college and multi-sport athlete in high school, I clearly think running is by far the hardest. It takes so much out of your body, takes so much time and requires a lot of rest to recuperate. Running is a sport that I think everybody would benefit from and enjoy. Just because it is difficult does not mean you should not get out and start today!