Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain.
26-602: The Great South Run is an annual 10 mile (16.09 km) road running race which takes place in Portsmouth , United Kingdom providing an intermediate distance between the ten kilometre and the half marathon (21.097 km) runs. Launched in 1990, it is part of the Great Run series created by former British athlete Brendan Foster . It was originally held in Southampton , but the race moved to its current course after
52-487: A headlight, and running on the side of the road opposite traffic. Although running can seem like a very cheap activity that anyone can partake in, there are some expenses. Replacing running shoes every 400–500 miles (650–800 km) costs money. Also, road race entry fees can be expensive because they have to cover the costs incurred by the race organizer. The entry fee for some big city marathons can be 150 to 300 dollars. The international governing body for road racing
78-497: Is World Athletics (formerly IAAF). World Athletics aims to set the standards for competitions by ensuring that all participants are drug-free and that all equipment used is legal. World Athletics measures each race course to give it an World Athletics certification rating. Once a race course is certified, the course can be counted for different records or rankings. National governing bodies which are affiliated to World Athletics are responsible for road races held in their country. Of
104-693: Is 7.1 miles (11.4 km); the Manchester Road Race in Manchester, Connecticut is 4.75 miles (7.64 km); " City to Surf " in Sydney , Australia is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi); Honolulu's " Great Aloha Run " is 8.15 miles (13.12 km); the " King Island Imperial 20" is 32 kilometres (20 mi) long; and the " Charleston Distance Run " in Charleston, West Virginia is 15 miles (24 km). Most road running events are open to
130-701: Is also recognized. Of these, the 5K, 10K, 25K, 30K, half marathon, marathon, and 100K are distances that are recognized for world records. Some major events have unique distances. The Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City , United States is 1.0 mile (1.6 km); the "Round the Bays" run in Auckland , New Zealand is 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi); the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, Massachusetts
156-585: Is also run in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. Similarly, Race for Life holds races throughout the UK to raise money for Cancer Research UK . First person "race reports" frequently appear on the Dead Runners Society electronic mailing list . Dublin , Ireland 's Women's Mini-Marathon is said to be the largest all-female event of its kind in the world. For many, competing in a local road race can be
182-492: Is currently untelevised. Key: Course record Road running These events are usually classified as long-distance according to athletics terminology, with races typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon . They may involve large numbers of runners or wheelchair entrants. The four most common World Athletics recognized distances for road running events are 5K runs , 10K runs , half marathons and marathons. Running on
208-560: Is that for long periods of time, a runner will continuously be landing on a harder surface, which can lead to various overuse injuries. In any given year, on average 65–80 percent of runners experience some type of injury. In order to decrease the risk of becoming injured from impact on the road, runners can change their shoes every 300–400 miles (500–650 km). This is important because high mileage shoes have poor shock absorption and worn down treads which can cause pain. One danger in road running, as opposed to running in any other location,
234-417: Is that vehicles drive by regularly at high speeds. In a study by the company Road ID, it was found that on average 122,000 runners are hit by vehicles and end up in hospital each year. This figure does not include runners who are hit but do not end up in hospital. Runners can take precautions to decrease this risk, including: wearing reflective gear, wearing bright colors, running only during daylight, wearing
260-677: The Amateur Sports Act of 1978 . Competitors from around the world participate in what are dubbed the "elite" races for cash prizes. Elite level road running series include the World Marathon Majors , the Great Run series, and IAAF Road Race Label Events . Fifth Avenue Mile The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual 1 mile (1.6 km) road race on Fifth Avenue in New York City , United States . The race begins at 80th Street and heads twenty blocks south to 60th Street . First held on September 26, 1981,
286-451: The competition, having won 8 races. The winners at the most recent edition in 2024 were Josh Kerr and Karissa Schweizer . In 2023, Kerr and Jemma Reekie won, which was the third Scottish double in succession after the 2022 victories of Jake Wightman and Laura Muir, and this of Wightman and Reekie, who won the event in 2021. The men's record in the race is 3:44.3 set by Josh Kerr in 2024. Prior to Kerr's performance, Sydney Maree held
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#1732801593674312-589: The course record at 3:47.52 for 43 years, since the inaugural edition of the race in 1981. The women's record is 4:14.8, set by Laura Muir in 2022, which was tied by Karissa Schweizer in 2024. The Fifth Avenue Mile was originally held in late September or early October. In 2014 it was moved to mid September near Patriot Day . The race has been sponsored by Pepsi (1981), Mercedes-Benz (1986–1991), Discover Card (1994–1996), Donald Trump (1997–1998), Continental Airlines (2005–2010) and currently New Balance (since 2016). Although World Athletics recognises
338-468: The current women's record of 50:42. Paula Radcliffe won the women's race in 2008 in a time of 51 minutes 11 seconds, a new British record . Kenyan runner Joseph Ebuya won the 2010 edition in 45:15 minutes, which was a significant improvement upon the previous UK all-comers record held by the 1995 winner Benson Masya . Channel 5 broadcast the Great South Run every year until 2019. The event
364-410: The distance. In order to record times for participants in road races, the race organiser typically pays a timing company to take times electronically, using a technology called radio-frequency identification (RFID). RFID technology is placed in either a disposable race bib, a shoe chip that is tied to shoelaces, or an ankle bracelet. RFID timing mats are then placed at the finish line of the race; when
390-468: The eligibility criteria: 1 mile (1,609.3 m), 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) , 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) , 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) , 10 miles (16.1 km) , 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) , half marathon (21.098 km or 13.1 mi), 25 kilometres (15.5 mi), 30 kilometres (19 mi), 35 kilometres (21.7 mi), marathon (42.195 km or 26.2 mi), 50 kilometres (31.1 mi), and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) . The 24-hour run
416-442: The first edition. The Great South Run has become one of Europe's most popular mass participation races over 10 miles, with a record 21,000 entries for the 2009 race. Although the elite race is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race which attracts some of the most successful professional runners, it is not a recognised distance for purposes of IAAF records. World record holder Paula Radcliffe and 2007 World Champion Luke Kibet are among
442-477: The general public. Participants are of varying running ability. It is not unusual for large events to have thousands of participants. Men and women compete side by side, and professional runners run in the same events as the average runner. In more prestigious races this is less likely to happen as there will be separate heats for men and women and for professional and non-professional athletes. In certain athletic events, first time amateurs are welcome to participate in
468-451: The motivation needed for individuals to pursue physical activity. In a study done by the bureau for labor statistics, road running ranked third in the most common form of sport and exercise activity for Americans. Running on the roads has a different effect on the muscles in the human body opposed to running on the treadmill. Treadmills are made to assist running form due to the way the belt pushes your legs back enhancing movement. Running on
494-532: The past winners. The event is currently sponsored by AJ Bell . Previous sponsors have been ExpressTest by Cignpost Diagnostics (2021), Simplyhealth (2017-2019), Morrisons (2015), Bupa (1993–2014) and Diet Coke (1990–1992). The 2016 and 2022 races did not have a major sponsor. The 1999 edition of the race was selected to be the Amateur Athletic Association 10-mile championships that year. In 2021, British runner Eilish McColgan set
520-592: The race is currently organized by New York Road Runners . The competition regularly attracts world-class runners, who compete in special heats after the regular age division heats. The Fifth Avenue Mile has also inspired similar events in the same mould, including the Anlene Orchard Mile in Singapore. Jennifer Simpson of the United States has historically been the most successful athlete at
546-570: The road is an alternative surface to running on a trail, track, or treadmill. For many people looking to participate in running as an activity or sport, there are multiple opportunities that can be found on the road. Road running is one of several forms of road racing, which also includes road bicycle racing and motor vehicle road racing . Race courses are usually held on the streets of major cities and towns but can be on any road. World Athletics recognizes eleven common distances for road races that are eligible to be counted for records if they meet
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#1732801593674572-463: The road through various conditions such as hills will do more to strengthen glutes, hamstrings, quads, and smaller muscles in the legs. Additionally, running on the road can help improve bone density as your body breaks down from impact and then regenerates itself. As with any type of running, there is a risk of natural wear and tear on the human body due to the different movements required to run. The difference with road running compared to other forms
598-417: The runner crosses the line their time will be automatically recorded. This technology has developed over time to be the most efficient form of recording multiple athlete times. Road running is recognizable for its diverse features. Anyone is welcome to participate in road running whether it be for recreational activity or for the purpose of competition. Running is an activity that attracts people from all over
624-662: The same event as members of running clubs and even current world-class champions. This wide availability makes road racing extremely popular, and millions of people worldwide run thousands of races each year. In the U.S., 18.1 million people registered for recreational road races in 2018. While world record-holders can maintain paces of 4–5 minutes per mile (2.5 – 3 minutes per km), non-professional runners average around 10 min/mile (6 min/km). The majority of registrants run for personal reasons such as achievement and fitness rather than to compete, and many race courses accommodate this by staying open long enough for participants to jog or walk
650-600: The thousands of road races held each year, 238 races, including some premier ones, are members of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). Many race organizers (or the running clubs which conduct the races) are members of the Road Runners Club of America . In addition, the USA Track & Field plays a role in selecting representatives for certain international competitions under
676-538: The world and for any age. For example, many road racing events recognize finishers in an age group system which acts as a way to reward younger or older athletes who may not be able to compete with runners in a prime age. Road races are often community-wide events that highlight or raise money for an issue or project. In the US, Susan G. Komen 's Race for the Cure is held nationwide to raise breast cancer awareness. This race
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