What Is Fitness?

Generally, being fit means that someone is healthy, active and can easily do the work and hobbies that they choose to do. However, most people take fitness to describe how good people are at sports-like activity such as running, football or hiking.

Being fit depends on the individual person ~ an Olympic athlete may be able to run 5 miles but then be disappointed because they are retraining after an injury and are used to running 10 or 15 miles at a time. Compared with most people, that athlete is fit, but compared to his or her own standards, the performance is seen as poor.

Fitness in sports depends on the muscles and the cardiovascular system. Speed and strength are both important but, again, fitness depends on the individual. Strength in the arm and leg muscles is more important to a weight lifter; lightness and agility is more important for a gymnast and cardiovascular fitness is more important for a marathon runner.