Editing Running (section)

==Events==
[[File:2012 Olympics - Mens 10000 m.jpg|thumb|right|Competitors in the men's [[10,000 metres|10,000-metre run]] at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].]]
Running is both a competition and a type of training for sports that have running or [[endurance]] components. As a sport, it is split into events divided by distance and sometimes includes permutations such as the obstacles in [[Steeplechase (athletics)|steeplechase]] and [[hurdles]]. Running races are contests to determine which of the competitors is able to run a certain distance in the shortest time. Today, competitive running events make up the core of the [[sport of athletics]]. Events are usually grouped into several classes, each requiring substantially different athletic strengths and involving different tactics, training methods, and types of competitors.

Running competitions have probably existed for most of humanity's history and were a key part of the [[ancient Olympic Games]] as well as the modern Olympics. The activity of running went through a period of widespread popularity in the United States during the [[running boom of the 1970s]]. Over the next two decades, as many as 25&nbsp;million Americans were doing some form of running or jogging – accounting for roughly one tenth of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motleyhealth.com/fitness/running-and-jogging-for-fitness|title=Health Benefits of Jogging and Running|work=MotleyHealth|date=14 July 2020 }}</ref> Today, road racing is a popular sport among non-professional athletes, who included over 7.7&nbsp;million people in America alone in 2002.<ref>USA Track & Field (2003). [http://www.usatf.org/news/specialReports/2003LDRStateOfTheSport.asp "Long Distance Running – State of the Sport."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311181007/http://www.usatf.org/news/specialReports/2003LDRStateOfTheSport.asp |date=11 March 2008 }}</ref>

===Limits of speed===

[[Footspeed]], or sprint speed, is the maximum speed at which a human can run. It is affected by many factors, varies greatly throughout the population, and is important in athletics and many sports. Air resistance for top sprinters can take up to 5% of their energy.<ref name="r344">{{cite journal |last=Hill |first=A. V. |author-link=Archibald Vivian Hill |year=1928 |title=The air-resistance to a runner |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character |publisher=The Royal Society |volume=102 |issue=718 |pages=380–385 |doi=10.1098/rspb.1928.0012 |issn=0950-1193 |doi-access=free}}</ref> 

The fastest human footspeed on record is {{cvt|44.7|km/h|m/s mph}}, seen during a 100-meter sprint (average speed between the 60th and the 80th meter) by [[Usain Bolt]].<ref>[http://berlin.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/30/83/20090817081546_httppostedfile_wch09_m100_final_13529.pdf IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Biomechanical Research Project: Berlin 2009.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514050117/http://berlin.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/30/83/20090817081546_httppostedfile_wch09_m100_final_13529.pdf |date=14 May 2014 }}</ref>

=== Speed over increasing distance based on world record times ===
(see [[:Category:Athletics (track and field) record progressions]])
[[File:Human speed distance portrait.png|thumb|Maximum human speed [km/h] and pace [min/km] per distance]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Distance metres
! Men m/s
! Women m/s
|-
| 100
| 10.44
| 9.53
|-
| 200
| 10.42
| 9.37
|-
| 400
| 9.26
| 8.44
|-
| 800
| 7.92
| 7.06
|-
| 1,000
| 7.58
| 6.71
|-
| 1,500
| 7.28
| 6.51
|-
| 1,609 ([[Mile run|mile]])
| 7.22
| 6.36
|-
| 2,000
| 7.02
| 6.15
|-
| 3,000
| 6.81
| 6.17
|-
| 5,000
| 6.60
| 5.87
|-
| 10,000 track
| 6.34
| 5.64
|-
| 10,000 road
| 6.23
| 5.49
|-
| 15,000 road
| 6.02
| 5.38
|-
| 20,000 track
| 5.91
| 5.09
|-
| 20,000 road
| 6.02
| 5.30
|-
| 21,097 [[Half marathon]]
| 6.02
| 5.29
|-
| 21,285 [[One hour run]]
| 5.91
| 5.14
|-
| 25,000 track
| 5.63
| 4.78
|-
| 25,000 road
| 5.80
| 5.22
|-
| 30,000 track
| 5.60
| 4.72
|-
| 30,000 road
| 5.69
| 5.06
|-
| 42,195 [[Marathon]]
| 5.69
| 5.19
|-
| 90,000 [[Comrades Marathon|Comrades]]
| 4.68
| 4.23
|-
| 100,000
| 4.46
| 4.24
|-
| 303,506 [[24-hour run]]
| 3.513
| 2.82
|}

===Types===
;Track
{{Main|Track running}}
[[File:Grayson running the 4x100.jpg|thumb|267x267px|A man running with a baton during a relay race.]]
Track running events are [[individual sport|individual]] or [[relay race|relay]] events with athletes racing over specified distances on an oval running track. The events are categorized as [[sprint (running)|sprints]], [[middle-distance running|middle]] and [[Long-distance track event|long-distance]], and [[hurdling]].

;Road
{{Main|Road running}}
Road running takes place on a measured course over an established road (as opposed to [[track running|track]] and [[cross country running]]). These events normally range from distances of 5 kilometers to longer distances such as [[half marathon]]s and [[marathons]], and they may involve scores of runners or wheelchair entrants.

;Cross-country
{{Main|Cross country running|Fell running|Trail running}}
Cross country running takes place over the open or rough terrain. The courses used for these events may include [[Poaceae|grass]], [[mud]], woodlands, hills, flat ground and water. It is a popular participatory sport and is one of the events which, along with track and field, road running, and [[racewalking]], makes up the umbrella sport of athletics.

;Vertical
{{Main|Fell running|Mountain running|Skyrunning|Trail running|Tower running}}
The majority of popular races do not incorporate a significant change in elevation as a key component of a course. There are several, disparate variations that feature significant inclines or declines. These fall into two main groups.

The naturalistic group is based on outdoor racing over geographical features. Among these are the cross country-related sports of [[fell running]] (a tradition associated with Northern Europe) and [[trail running]] (mainly [[ultramarathon]] distances), the running/climbing combination of [[skyrunning]] (organised by the [[International Skyrunning Federation]] with races across North America, Europe and East Asia) and the mainly trail- and road-centred [[mountain running]] (governed by the [[World Mountain Running Association]] and based mainly in Europe).

The second variety of vertical running is based on human structures, such as stairs and man-made slopes. The foremost type of this is [[tower running]], which sees athletes compete indoors, running up steps within very tall structures such as the [[Eiffel Tower]] or [[Empire State Building]].

===Distances===

====Sprints====
{{Main|Sprint (running)}}
[[File:Sina Schielke (192) wins the 100 metres race - ISTAF 2006 - Berlin, 3 September.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|International-level women athletes competing in 100 m sprint race at [[ISTAF Berlin]], 2006]]

Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the [[Ancient Olympic Games]] featured only one event – the [[stadion race]], which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other.<ref name=Instone>Instone, Stephen (15 November 2009). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_01.shtml#two The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern]. [[BBC]]. Retrieved 23 March 2010.</ref> There are three sprinting events which are currently held at the Olympics and outdoor World Championships: the [[100 metres]], [[200 metres]], and [[400 metres]]. These events have their roots in races of [[imperial measurement]]s which were later altered to metric: the 100&nbsp;m evolved from the [[100-yard dash]],<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4661.html 100 m – Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> the 200&nbsp;m distances came from the [[furlong]] (or 1/8 of a mile),<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4677.html 200 m Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> and the 400&nbsp;m was the successor to the [[440-yard dash]] or quarter-mile race.<ref name="400M"/>

At the professional level, sprinters begin the race by assuming a crouching position in the [[starting blocks]] before leaning forward and gradually moving into an upright position as the contest progresses and momentum is gained.<ref name="100 m – For the Expert">[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4666.html 100 m – For the Expert]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> Athletes remain in the same lane on the running track throughout all sprinting events,<ref name=400M>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4682.html 400 m Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> with the sole exception of the 400&nbsp;m indoors. Races up to 100&nbsp;m are largely focused upon acceleration to an athlete's maximum speed.<ref name="100 m – For the Expert"/> All sprints beyond this distance increasingly incorporate an element of endurance.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=4673.html 200 m For the Expert]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> [[Human physiology]] dictates that a runner's near-top speed cannot be maintained for more than thirty seconds or so as [[lactic acid]] builds up, and leg muscles begin to be deprived of [[oxygen]].<ref name=400M />

The [[60 metres]] is a common indoor event and it an indoor world championship event. Other less-common events include the [[50 metres]], [[55 metres]], [[300 metres]] and [[500 metres]] which are used in some high and [[college athletics|collegiate]] competitions in the United States. The [[150 metres]], is rarely competed: [[Pietro Mennea]] set a world best in 1983,<ref name=150M>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/8039407.stm Superb Bolt storms to 150m record ]. [[BBC Sport]] (17 May 2009). Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> Olympic champions [[Michael Johnson (athlete)|Michael Johnson]] and [[Donovan Bailey]] went [[Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race|head-to-head]] over the distance in 1997,<ref>Tucker, Ross (26 June 2008). [http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/06/fastest-man-in-world.html Who is the fastest man in the world?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523165116/http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/06/fastest-man-in-world.html |date=23 May 2012 }}. The Science of Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2010.</ref> and [[Usain Bolt]] improved Mennea's record in 2009.<ref name=150M />

====Middle distance====
{{Main|Middle-distance running}}
Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the [[800 metres]], [[1500 metres]] and [[mile run]], although the [[3000 metres]] may also be classified as a middle-distance event.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/381174/middle-distance-running Middle-distance running]. ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. Retrieved 5 April 2010.</ref> The 880-yard run, or half-mile, was the forebear to the 800&nbsp;m distance and it has its roots in competitions in the United Kingdom in the 1830s.<ref name=IAAF800>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9389.html 800 m – Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 5 April 2010.</ref> The 1500&nbsp;m came about as a result of running three laps of a 500&nbsp;m track, which was commonplace in continental Europe in the 1900s.<ref name=IAAF1500>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9397.html 1500 m – Introduction]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved 5 April 2010.</ref>

====Long distance====
{{main|Long-distance running}}
Examples of longer-distance running events are [[Long-distance track event|long-distance track races]], [[half marathon]]s, [[marathon]]s, [[Ultrarunning|ultramarathons]], and [[multiday races]].