24 Avril 2024
Reading time : 2 min 45 s
Running has undergone a major evolution since its origins as a necessity for hunting or survival. Today it is a hobby, a way to stay in shape and even a professional sporting competition. Simple trips have become urban marathons and ultra marathons, and technological advances have democratized the activity with innovative equipment, tracking apps and personalized training programs, broadening its appeal to a wide audience. How does running develop?
Running has a fascinating history dating back thousands of years. Its origins are often associated with hunting or survival practices among early humans, where fast running was essential to catching prey or escaping predators. Running is an ancestral activity whose origins date back to an ancient messenger of the Greek army. The story goes that more than 2,500 years ago, a soldier named Philippides ran from Marathon to Athens to announce Athens' victory over the Persians, covering the 42 km between the two cities before succumbing to death. exhaustion. This practice was integrated into the ancient Games until it was banned by Theodosius in 393 AD. It is modernized year after year through several competitions. The distance of 42.195 km was set at the London Olympic Games in 1908 so that the runners, through this slight lengthening of the course, would pass under the windows of the British royal family. In the Middle Ages, similar competitions took place in England, Ireland and Scotland, and they increased in number in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in the training of soldiers.
The modern history of running has been marked by events such as the reintroduction of marathons to the modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the formalization of the distance of 42.195 km at the London Games in 1908. Since then, running has Running has become a popular sport around the world, with a variety of disciplines from sprints to long-distance and endurance running, attracting millions of participants of all ages and abilities.
The different types of running.
There are several types of running races, each with their own distances, characteristics and participation levels. Here are some of the main types of running:
Running comes in several types of races, each with its own characteristics and distances. Track running is practiced on a standard 400 meter athletics track, with events such as the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter sprints, as well as long distance races such as the 800 meter, 1500 meter, 3000 meter , 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. In contrast, road running takes place on protected roads, offering varied distances such as 5 km, 10 km, half marathon (21.1 km) and marathon (42.195 km), as well as ultra marathons of up to several hundred kilometers away. Trail running is practiced on mountain trails or natural terrain, with technical and varied courses ranging from a few kilometers to ultra marathons of 100 miles (160 km) or more. Finally, cross-country takes place on natural terrain like fields, hills or forests, with shorter distances from the road or track.
Starting the Obstacle Course (OCR) offers courses from 5 km to 24 hour races. The Color Race takes place over 5 km to 10 km. The Night Race offers 5 km to 10 km. Vertical Running focuses on rapid climbs over short distances. The Charity Run ranges from 5km to 10km, and the Virtual Run offers distances from 5km to a marathon.
Major running competitions include events such as marathons, half marathons, cross country and track races. The main distances are the marathon (42.195 km), the half-marathon (21.1 km), the 10,000 meters on the track and the cross-country races which can vary from 8 km to 12 km for men and 6 km to 10 km for women. These competitions often attract thousands of participants from around the world, ranging from professional athletes to avid amateur runners.
Running is like a dance with life, where each step brings us closer to our horizons. It is a breath of energy and freedom that erases worries and lets the light shine. It’s also work, a challenge.