Cross country runners are not athletes? :: RunningForums.com

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By Justin Breen / Post-Tribune staff writer

You have to be driven, dedicated and perhaps a little goofy to run cross country.

But do you have to be an athlete?

The question was posed to me following Saturday’s New Prairie Semistate, where the best runners in Northern and Northwest Indiana strutted their stuff in armageddon-like conditions.

Are cross country runners athletes?

The top finishers certainly are. Morton’s Tim Sirbek ran five kilometers — or 3.1 miles — in a first-place time of 16:09. That’s an average of about five minutes a mile. Most of us would be lucky to run one mile in seven minutes.

Chesterton’s Mary Ballinger and Sarah Kehe took second and third, respectively in the 4K girls race, in clockings of 14:53 and 15:01. That’s better than a six-minute-mile pace, which many treadmills don’t even exceed.

But move down the overall finishers’ list to the boys who scored times of 20:02, 21:09 and 23:59. They were the last three in, and I’d hardly dub those times worthy of a semistate.

The final female finished in more than 20 minutes. Again, I’m glad she completed the course, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a great athletic performance.

The bottom line here is, aren’t at least a few cross country runners the ones who couldn’t hack it in other sports?

I can’t think of one boys runner who is also a basketball, baseball or track sprinting star. Or more than one or two girls who could survive in basketball or volleyball.

It’s frightening to think how hard a defensive lineman, linebacker or strong safety would crunch the lankiest of runners. Think emergency room.

Obviously a plethora of crossers are long-distance specialists in track, but are there more than a few who could shine in the so-called premier sports?

I’ve talked to many, many runners who started in cross just to stay in shape for winter and spring sports.

A few gave up on their other games to concentrate on running. Others hate to run, but they put up with the hassle because it pays off in the long run.

Kehe, perhaps the area’s best girls runner, actually enjoys swimming more. Michigan City’s Anna Weber only got into running because it guaranteed she’d make the cut during junior high basketball.

Look at most cross country runners, and clearly they’re in shape. Many have defined muscle tone from weight programs.

But these boys and girls run between 10 and 60 miles per week just for practice. Anyone would be in fine condition after that type of consistent training.

The state finals are this Saturday, when thousands of fans will attend the event at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.

Only the state’s elite runners will have a chance for glory.

But will their exploits be considered athletic accomplishments?

The question is in your court to answer.

Of course they are athletes. What was he thinking? Do any of you understand his angle?

I have his email addy. If you feel compelled to send him an email, leave a response and I can PM it to you.

Just found an update to the article if you feel like reading it all:

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The answer was in your court, and I’ve been smashed with your responses.

Throughout the country, readers had their opinions on a column I wrote for Monday’s Post-Tribune: “Are runners athletes? The question has been asked.”

I received more than 100 e-mails, many saying I didn’t have a clue about much of anything. That’s fine. I understand.

Almost all said runners were indeed athletes. I’m a runner, too, but I don’t consider myself an athlete, even though I can run a 5K in under 21 minutes.

I thought I’d share some of the e-mails with you, at least the ones suited for publication.

n Tim Ray, Chesterton cross country and track coach: “I agree, it is frightening to think how hard it would be for a defensive lineman, linebacker, or strong safety to catch the lankiest of runners. Think emergency room! There are runners out to run because they can’t hack it in other sports, but there are athletes that go out for other sports because they can’t hack running.”

n George Muenz, Montreal, Quebec, native: “Cross country runners and runners in general are certainly athletes, and even more so than the team sports you mention. In running there are no passes, no referees making a bad call, no fumbles that result in a score, and no time-outs or sitting on the bench.”

n Richard McClendon, a cross country runner: “Besides being an uninformed idiot, you don’t write well.”

n Kevin Young, Santa Barbara, Calif.: “ No one pushes themselves harder in practice and competitions than the distance runners. No other sport makes its participants go through so much pain.”

n Todd Dell, Grand Rapids, Mich.: “Similarly, think of how well your so-called athletes do in say a 5K or a marathon? Think body bag.”

n John Ring, Dartmouth College: “You glorify natural talent and physique over hard work and determination.”

n Paul Kirsch, 38 years old, runner: “Running is one of the more boring spectator sports. That I will concede. But that should have nothing to do with a discussion of who is an athlete.”

n George Sanders: “Because Americans are so short-sighted and focused that professional and high level collegiate sports are the only ones that consistently receive any media coverage is no reason to disparage all the other athletes out there participating in less-glamorous sports.”

n Jason Warick, Saskatchewan News Network and Canada’s fifth-ranked marathoner: “These kids are busting their guts to run those races — they deserve your respect. All you did was try to be 'controversial’ without a coherent argument to back it up. I have no idea what you were trying to say. That was just pure bush league.”

n Jill Geer: “You definitely score points for having the guts to write something that a lot of people actually think. Anybody who is a football person shares your point of view, I’m sure. And the fact is that cross country IS a sport for the nerds/non-football types. That’s why I love it. You have band geeks (also I was in band ... drum major to boot), 'athletes’, intellectuals, all coming together on one team.”

n Joseph N. Chorley, M.D., Baylor: “In a country where we have soaring rates of obesity, a SPORT that emphasizes keeping in optimal shape (not an eating disorder) is a good change from the obese 300-pound lineman who has sleep apnea, trouble making his grades because he is sleep deprived ... and his heart and joints are working overtime to sustain this massive body that would optimally be 100 lighter, but because the coach needs some more beef up front on the line, he has the kid drinking protein shakes.”

n Matt Bozung, academic adviser, Michigan State University: “Let me say that your comments are reminiscent of those that a cross country runner typically hears from an 'athlete’ on the football, basketball, or baseball team. It’s ignorant, destructive, and self-destructive.”

n Chris O’Connor: “To be fair, runners often debate whether or not golfers or bowlers are athletes.”

n Sarah Kraus, my girlfriend: “Remember that along with all of the people who are sending you angry messages right now, you’ll always have me thinking about how much I love you and just how wonderful you are.”

Guess he got cut from the team

he's messed up with his definition of athlete. I think he means "gifted" or "natural". Runners are made, not born

second guess is that he may have run a few road races and has no concept of cross-country versus road racing. About as comparable as a mtn bike race to critterium.

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n Jason Warick, Saskatchewan News Network and Canada’s fifth-ranked marathoner: “These kids are busting their guts to run those races — they deserve your respect. All you did was try to be 'controversial’ without a coherent argument to back it up. I have no idea what you were trying to say. That was just pure bush league.”

n Joseph N. Chorley, M.D., Baylor: “In a country where we have soaring rates of obesity, a SPORT that emphasizes keeping in optimal shape (not an eating disorder) is a good change from the obese 300-pound lineman who has sleep apnea, trouble making his grades because he is sleep deprived ... and his heart and joints are working overtime to sustain this massive body that would optimally be 100 lighter, but because the coach needs some more beef up front on the line, he has the kid drinking protein shakes.”

n Chris O’Connor: “To be fair, runners often debate whether or not golfers or bowlers are athletes.”

I like these best

But I guess a baseball player is an althete. I know it is hard work out there, standing around or sitting on the bench for the few seconds you may spend swinging a bat, hoping to hit a ball, and if you are lucky you will run to a base.

This guy is a moron.

Just as some writers aren't "real" writers apparently.....

Running Brewer wrote:

and glad you brought up that sport. I could barely hit the ball past the pitcher and I rec'd the game ball in the championship game in my softball league circa 1992. I was 4 for 4 that game because I was fast enough to get to 1st base before the throw.....this for a woman so big, I couldn't see my feet while running...woot, I was an ATHLETE.

..did I mention I was 6 months preggies and wearing slippers? Mr. Green

don't ask about my biking abilities Embarassed

I am glad to hear he got slammed with email responses!

Floridaboiler wrote:

I am glad to hear he got slammed with email responses!

nolefan85 wrote:

What an ass! Confused

BIG

TIME

Richard McClendon, a cross-country runner wrote:

“Besides being an uninformed idiot, you don’t write well.”

Non-Riff-Raffer POTD!

The responses already took care of me, but say you go out for football or basketball but sit the bench, are you still an athlete. Everyone participates in cross country. It's like asking if tracksters are athletes because some of them only run 100 meters. 100 meters? Shoot, i can still see the starting line.

Cross country runners are not athletes?

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