I was just thinking... as with any skill... if you focus on practicing it you get better at it (hence skill points and such) so since there's jump/climb/etc, why not have something for running as well? People who focus on increasing their speed become faster sprinters in real life, where as people who don't... we.... don't become faster... 

(thinking about implementing this in MY future campaigns for funzies, but want some input) What do you guys think about this:

New skill:

Sprinting.

A character may make a Sprint check when they wish to move something beyond their normal movement rates. The DC is (something like) base 15 plus 5 per 5ft increment they try to add to their base movement.

example: A dwarven fighter (base movement 20) doesn't have the running feat, but has 15 ranks in sprinting. He wants to run 80 ft in a single round to get to the kobolds trying to snipe the party, so makes a Sprint check DC 15 + 10 to see if he can make it in one round to take out the kobolds.

 The 15 + 10 means he's trying to add 10 to his base movement making him able to run 90 ft in the round, allowing him to make it the full 80 ft to the kobold in this round if he succeeds his check. 

If he meets or exceeds the DC, he makes it the extra distance and is fine.

If he misses the DC by 4 or less, he is unable to keep his composure. He either chooses to stop his action at his normally allowed movement (in the dwarf's case 60 ft) or makes it the full indended distance (in the dwarf's case 80 ft) and is fatigued at the end of his turn for a number of rounds equal to the number by which he missed the DC

If he misses the DC by 5 or more, he moves his normal distance and is fatigued immediately after his move action (losing any further actions that turn) and remains fatigued for one round per point he missed the DC by.

if he misses the DC by 10 or more, he moves his normal distance and is exhausted for 1/2 the number he missed the DC by, and is fatigued for the remainder of rounds (the other 1/2 he missed the DC by)

Personally, I like this idea because it ads an interesting spin on combat. Characters that want to push themselves to the limit can do so and potentially come to the rescue of a friend they might not normally be able to reach, but in pushing themselves, they also risk severely crippling their ability to function in combat if they push themselves too hard. 

It's one more option of an "OH SHIT" last ditch effort, or a great way to add style and emotion to combat. It can make chasing after NPC's infinitely more interesting because endurance becomes the key: who can sprint faster for longer... the hunter or the hunted?

lemme know what you think, tweaks, straight up rejections, straight up support, hit me with whatever ya got.

(this could also open a new set of feats focused around running, which are a whole different discussion to be had, depending on the reception this has.)

-Z

I like it. Let me read into it a bit more when I get the chance.

My only concern is just yet another thing to think about in combat.

*ponders*

1) Con or Str based skill?

2) AC penalty for running all out? (suggest -2 for adding up to 20', -4 for 25'+ adding above that)

3) Movement as per charge...i.e., can't change direction (strait line movment)?

4) What classes get this class skil?

Don't think it's nessicary. Rework the run feat so that this is factored in, and use an exisiting skill/save/stat for the roll.

Adding skills can be fun, but I don't think we need to add skills to the list unless they are something completely different, or far more specific, than anything that already exists.