There are two kinds of people in the world of exercise, it seems. There are those who are really good; the kind you see on TV competing at an international level, or leading the pack at a local road race. And then there are the rest of us who, no matter how hard we try, may never excel at our chosen sport.

But not being the best doesn't mean you shouldn't take your athletic endeavours seriously—or call yourself an athlete. After all, Merriam-Webster defines an athlete as "a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina." Nothing in there about winning.

So what truly separates the amateurs from the athletes? It's not how well you play; it's how hard you try. Here are seven ways anyone can become an athlete—you and me included.