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Encyclopedia > Distance running
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Man Running - Edward Muybridge
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Horse Running - Edward Muybridge

Running is by definition the fastest means for an animal to move on foot. It is defined in sporting terms as a gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground at the same time. It is a form of aerobic exercise.

Contents

Jogging

Jogging is a type of slow running that was previously called "roadwork" when athletes in training, such as boxers, customarily ran several miles each day as part of their conditioning. In the 1960s or 1970s the word "roadwork" was mostly supplanted by the word "jogging" and this form of running became quite popular among many people at that time in the United States. Jogging eventually fell somewhat from favor as it is a "high-impact" exercise that places strain on the body, notably the joints of the knee. This is actually one of the basic reasons for doing the exercise, as the impact drives growth processes in the body, but many dropped jogging in order to take up "low-impact" exercises such as stair climbing.


Competitive running

Perhaps the most basic of athletic contests, running races are simply contests to determine which of the competitors is able to run a certain distance fastest. Today, competitive running events make up the core of the sport of athletics.


Running competitions have probably existed for most of humanity's history, and were a key part of the ancient Greek Olympics, as well as the modern Olympic games.


Events are usually grouped into several classes, each requiring substantially different athletic strengths and involving different tactics, training methods, and types of competitors.


Running effects not only the body, but the mind as well. After runners finish a great run they often say they have a "runners high" - a feeling of accomplishment, like doing something no other human has ever done.


Running injuries

There are many injuries associated with running (due to being an high impact activity). Common injuries are "runner's knee" (pain in the knee), shin splints, pulled muscles (especially the hamstring), "jogger's nipple" (soreness of the nipple due to friction), and twisted ankles.


Generally these can be minimized by warming up beforehand and wearing proper running shoes.


Types of running events

Classification of running by distance

External links

  • Paula Radcliffe (http://www.paularadcliffe.com) - The Official Website

  Results from FactBites:
 
Running - LoveToKnow 1911 (1886 words)
Running at the present day is divided into sprinting (distances up to one-quarter of a mile), middle-distance running (from one-quarter of a mile to loon yds.) and long-distance running (over 1000 yds.).
The course for sprinting races, when run in the open air, is marked off in lanes for the individual runners by means of cords stretched upon short iron rods.
The old method was for the men running the second quarter of the course to wait on the mark for the first relay men to arrive, and then, snatching small flags from their hands, to continue the race, handing over the flags to the third relay upon completing their quarter.
Middle distance track event - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (1265 words)
Running in the lead is often considered a disadvantage, as trailing runners can choose when to accelerate past the leader, and because of the effects of wind resistance.
At exactly four laps of a normal 400 m track, this distance is primarily raced at the middle/high school levels as a near replacement for the mile (it is in fact about 9 m shorter).
This length of middle distance race, 1760 yards, (1609.344 metres), is very common in countries that don't use the metric system, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the track.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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