Is Decathlon fair ? What about long distance running ?

There are a couple things that you're not understanding about the Decathlon.

First off, the decathletes train for every event they run, and just in a flat 1500, most of them would be low 4:0x, some of them would probably be sub 4:00. When they're running the 1500 at the end of the decathlon, they're completely and totally exhausted. They've done 9 events at maximum effort with limited rest between them over the last two days. They're not going to be running their 1500 PRs. Also the 1500 isn't long distance, it's mid distance, just so you know.

The other thing is that many of the field events have a natural bias towards a sprinter body type and sprinter training over distance body type and distance training. Shotput, high jump, long jump, and javelin all clearly favor a more powerful and muscular build. Adding long distance events (like the 5000) would serve to detract ability to perform well in other events more than anything else.

edit: and no offense, but I highly doubt you can "easily" run a 3:50 1500m (~4:05 mile). That's a pretty high level performance for even d1 college runners, not something you just head out to the track and run. If you mean you could run a 1500 in 4:20 to 4:50, that's fine. Could you do it after running a max effort 100m/110 hurdles/400, doing max effort longjumps/polevaults/highjumps, and throwing shot/disc/javelin all over the last two days? I highly doubt it.

The difference between sprinters and a distance guy is that distance people must pick races. We can only do one good race per weekend at 100% effort ( this rule applies for 5k and above really). You can still run great times and run multiple races in one weekend but the effort will not be 100% and will be conservative. You will see a trend among college races that in conference championships the times will be slower and the events are usually spaced. Another thing is most college guys are either 800/1500m or 5000m/10000m guys. You rarely have any other combinations. If a guy like me, whom is a 10k specialist does a 1500m it is an event I do not train for and I run off of speed. I run around a 31:00 10k and I could muscle a 4:05 1500m or so without any specific training but the effects of my 10k will contribute to being able to put forth a decent time ( it is easier to race "down" than up). But a guy running a 5k/10k that only has the endurance to run an 800m will not run well at 5k/10k because they lack the endurance. Since events like the mile,5k,10k are at least 75% aerobic fitness based aerobic endurance contributes a lot to them. If I were to focus mainly on the 1500m I might run say a 3:55 or so but I would have to spend less time on my aerobic fitness and thus my 5k/10k times would suffer. We do have advantages, us whom do the distance events. We may not look strong but I would argue that a guy that can run 15-17 miles several days a week is strong and a guy that holds a pace for miles a time is strong. They may not look strong but it takes strength in order for the muscles to not break down. Since a distance runner has a majority of Type 1 fibers (slow) then the muscle fibers themselves are smaller but that makes them no less strong, that is why the distance guys look "cut" versus "jacked" ( larger muscles). Distance is about strength, patience and picking a race ( recovery takes a few days) and "fair" is not part of it, is a a fact that a competitive runner has to face and accept.

Distance running may not require a lot of skill or coordination, but it is far from easy. Some people can work hard at running for decades and never get "really good". Running short distances is just as hard, but requires no more skill or coordination than running long distances, only different muscles. Sprinters (less than 400 meters) use fast twitch muscles, Middle-distance runners (between 400 and 1000m) use a combination of fast twitch and slow twitch muscles, and Long Distance Runners (5000m and Up) use slow twitch muscles. It takes years of dedication, consistency, and proper training and nutrition to build up endurance and speed, but you might still not be a "really good" distance runner. Basically, running is never easy. You have to train drills, eat right, run specific distances on specific days at a specific pace for your desired effort, and grit through a lot of pain and discomfort. Almost anyone can get out there and run, just like anyone can pick up a raquet, a basketball, a football, or kick a soccerball, but to be "really good" takes years of hard work, good genetics, and proper environment. That's why the Kenyans win the marathon so much, because of good genetics, proper training, and excellent training environment. If you still think it's easy, then go ahead give it a try. I think you'll find running more challenging than you might have anticipated. Good Luck!

Some people like to sprint. Others like distance. My husband was a fast sprinter in high school but now runs around eight miles each day.

The set distances are traditional now. You could try to make a new set of distances, but most people like what is already established.

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The distances are just how the sport is set out

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