running

Racing on foot as a sport. There are various kinds of running event: sprinting, middle distance, cross country, road running (e.g. marathons), hurdles, and steeplechase.

Types of running Sprinting: divided into 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. Sprinting events, which are run in lanes, started from a standing position until the introduction of starting blocks in 1937. Middle distance: races of various distances from 800 metres to 5,000 metres. These distances combine mental and physical strength with speed and analytical planning. They are raced on a stadium race circuit, but not in lanes. Cross country: combines endurance and mental strength, requiring power and grip to run through mud, water, snow, over barriers, and up hills. International competition began in 1898 between England and France. Road running: lengths of road races vary, the most popular being the marathon and half marathon.