Long-Distance or Road Running
Question.. What is the definition of long-distance running?
Long-distance running to me is the king of sports. No other sport offers such a diverse a range of activity or such a wonderful history that can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks. Long-distance running has always been a central part of the sport of athletics.
Road racing has become one of North America’s most popular competitive sports. Thousands of people take part in road-running events each year, from 5K, 8K, and 10K fun runs to half marathons, marathons, and ultras. And with every race, more people are discovering the joys and benefits of running.
Humans evolved from apelike ancestors because they needed to run long distances to hunt animals or scavenge carcasses on Africa’s vast plains, and the ability to run shaped our bodies, making us look the way we do today.
Road running offers competitors a range of interests and challenges such as dealing with hills, sharp bends, varied surfaces, bad weather, and involvement in a large group of like-minded people.
Running that covers a distance farther than a marathon is called ultrarunning. These events are called ultramarathons. They are either based on distance or time (i.e., 50K or six hours). The Comrades Marathon run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa, which is approximately 89 kilometers (55.3 miles), is probably the most famous event.
Follow the links below for information about the different distances involved and some of the more famous classic running events.
5K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultramarathon