Running—The Most Democratic of Sports
Running is a very democratic endeavor.

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By Skip Cleaver
Posted Monday, 21 November, 2005

In many ways running is the most democratic of sports. Anyone can participate anywhere she or he chooses. It matters not if running athletes are rich or poor, female or male, old or young. Ethnicity, race, religious persuasion, and orientation are irrelevant. Size has no bearing. Location-location-location becomes anywhere-anytime-any distance in the runners’ world.

There are no rich franchise owners—anyone can be a race director. Running clubs and national organizations are staunchly democratic, with no aristocratic elite; they are open to all, and at every level.

Running can be done alone, or with small groups, or with thousands.

Running is one of the oldest of athletic activities, and the most utilitarian in origin. Nobody asks a runner about occupation, but may inquire as to pace, base, and next race. No one tells a runner she is not welcome. It is wide open, for all.

Running is also the most portable of sports. It depends only on attitude, not on latitude or geographic location. Except for busy highways or other dangers (never run on Interstates, for example), there are few roads, streets, neighborhoods, parks, paths, and trails where runners are not seen. This portability means that traveling is no obstacle. And running is running whether residing in Florida or Minnesota, Flanders or Manitoba.

Great runners come from all corners of the globe, and so do average and slow runners. And they come from all walks of life. Athletes stride through deserts, forest, and fields; runners enjoy riverside or ocean-side jaunts. Runners run up and down mountains. They run pretty much where and when they choose.

Technology plays a very small role in running. Shoes are the only real investment required, and the technology for building running shoes and for developing shoe materials have advanced tremendously. But there is still relatively little expense. Some seem genuinely determined to spend a lot of money on clothing and watches, shoes and monitors. You can, if you like. But really there are few things necessary to spend money on, except for comfortable clothing, travel, and race fees.

At the scholastic and collegiate level, racing is one of the healthiest of competitions, and the one with the least cost, especially cross-country. Not only is it the least costly, but also it really is the only sport that one can compete in at school, and continue to compete decades later into one’s senior years.

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the running shoes and duds can go along easily—democratic and portable. The sport and the benefits are always readily available.

Some sports require expensive and complex equipment, along with fields and arenas. Sometimes these are unavailable, especially to the ordinary citizen. Always they are expensive. But growing up poor does not prohibit a child from growing up to be fast. Nutrition does play a role, as does health care availability, but usually it is available to all. On average the sport of running costs much less than other organized sports, yet it provides so much enjoyment and so much benefit.

Schools require less extensive and expensive fields or facilities for running programs, especially cross-country. African runners, for example, compete on the world’s roads and tracks. And they dominate with few, if any, sporting facilities in comparison with European countries. Technology and economic power aside, advanced countries can be beaten, and beaten badly, by teams from third world countries. Running is open to all.

Age is a factor in every other sport. There are few age-group competitions, for example, outside of running. In running people often begin after retirement, or certainly later in life. Some run in their youth and put it away for a while, then revisit after the kids are grown. Often older women of today often have had no chance at other athletic activities, but find success in running and racing. Running is a natural and instinctive activity that can be begun at any age.

Exercise, health benefits, and enjoyment are common to most real sports, but few other competitive activities are readily available to those who wish to participate. The 87-pound sophomore boy is not likely to find success in football. A 140-pound, six-foot girl is unlikely to win in gymnastics. But they can both be successful athletes as runners. Ten-year-old girls can compete in the same race with 80-year-old women, and both can win their division.

Few sports give back a feeling of elation and exaltation, and few give one boundless energy, power, health, and quality of life. Few other sports provide such a sense of mission and accomplishment, and few are as specifically measurable in terms of progress and benefits. Whether you are preparing for middle school or mid life, high school, college, work, travel, or retirement, a running program can be tremendously valuable. And it is available. There is nothing like it. Running is open to all-comers. Running is a most democratic sport.

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