[+] Running is Work

Why talent in running is overrated and what you can do if you don't have any

[Diesen Artikel gibt es auch auf Deutsch]

In running, there is a common assumption that talent is the key to success. This makes sense, of course. We see elite runners seemingly flying effortlessly over the world's finish lines, surprising us year after year with new top performances. Of course, they train hard. Much harder than us amateurs. But somehow we always get the feeling that the pros (the distinction between this category and others is not entirely clear) have something that we amateurs (again, the distinction is not entirely clear) lack: talent.

(Photo by Adam Jones)

Are we really all the same?

Steven Pressfield teaches us that the road to success begins with the daily battle against our inner Resistance. This Resistance, which tries to keep us from putting on our running shoes and getting going, is everywhere. It whispers doubts into our minds and makes us find excuses. But the true champions are those who defy Resistance and continue to work hard every day, regardless of external circumstances or moods.

So far, so good. But that still doesn't explain why some runners, with the seemingly same amount of training, run significantly faster times and make the podium at the world's biggest races, while others have to settle for winning their age group at the local half marathon. If they're lucky.

Is talent the reason for the difference? Or do the pros simply invest more in their success than we mere mortals? Things we might not see at first glance? Or don't want to see? Or don't even know about?