Outline of running

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to running:

Running – means of rapidly traveling on foot, in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground. Running is a key component to a number of sporting events typically in the realm of road racing, track and field or triathlon.

Nature of running

Running can be described as:

Exercise
- Aerobic exercise
A sport
- A component of athletics
- An individual sport
- A team sport (see relay race)
A form of travel
- Animal locomotion
  - Terrestrial locomotion

Forms of running

The Minnesota state high school cross country meet, with Elliott Heath and Hassan Mead leading.

Backward running
Barefoot running
Sprinting
Jogging
ChiRunning
Level and incline running
Long-distance running – form of continuous running over distances of at least 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). Physiologically, it is largely aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength.

Running sports events

Track and field
- Sprints
  - 50 m
  - 55 m
  - 60 m
  - 100 m
  - 150 m
  - 200 m
  - 300 m
  - 400 m
- Hurdles
  - 50 m
  - 55 m
  - 60 m
  - 100 m
  - 110 m
  - 200 m
  - 300 m
  - 400 m
- Middle distance running
  - 500 m
  - 600 m
  - 800 m
  - 1500 m
  - 3000 m
  - Steeplechase
- Long-distance track events
- Relays
Road running
Off-road running
Adventure running
Cross country running
- Fell running
  - Fell running competitions
- Mountain running
  - Mountain running events
Trail running
Multi-discipline sports of which running is a part:
- Multisports that include running:
  - Adventure racing
  - Aquathlon
  - Duathlon
  - Triathlon – which includes running as its final, third component
  - Quadrathlon
- Tetrathlon
- Modern pentathlon
- Heptathlon
- Octathlon
- Decathlon
Tower running

Running venues

List of largest running events

Running equipment

Injury prevention

Physiology of running

Gait

Running injuries

History of running

Running organizations

Amateur Athletic Association – the oldest national governing body for athletics in the world, having been established on 24 April 1880.
Athletics Canada
Athletics New Zealand
World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF))
- Asian Athletics Association – sponsor of the Asian Championships
- Confederation of African Athletics – sponsor of the African Championships in Athletics
- CONSUDATLE – sponsor of the South American Championships in Athletics and the South American Cross Country Championships
- European Athletic Association – sponsor of the European Athletics Championships among others
- North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) sponsor of the NACAC Championships
- Oceania Athletics Association – sponsor of the Oceania Athletics Championships
Road Runners Club of America
UK Athletics
USA Track & Field

Persons influential in running

Previous world record holder Asafa Powell leading a race.

Great Britain

Roger Bannister – first person to run the mile in less than 4 minutes.
David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter (1905–1981) – president of the IAAF for 30 years
Sebastian Coe – retired Olympian who heads London's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics; held all four middle distance world records simultaneously, the 800 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and the mile.
Mo Farah CBE - Britain's most successful distance runner.

France

Pierre de Coubertin (1863–1937) – founder of the modern Olympics

Morocco

Hicham El Guerrouj – current holder of the 1500 metres and mile outdoor world records, as well as a double Olympic gold medalist. Ran the mile in 3:43.13 in Rome in 1999.

New Zealand

Arthur Lydiard (1917–2004), runner and coach.

Senegal

Lamine Diack, president of the IAAF since November 1999

United States

Avery Brundage (1887–1975) – long-time president of the International Olympic Committee
Ollan Cassell – long-time head of the USA Track & Field
Ted Corbitt (1919–2007) – founder of the Road Runners Club of America and founding president of New York Road Runners. He led efforts to accurately measure and certify long distance road race courses in the United States.
Jim Fixx – author of the 1977 best-selling book, The Complete Book of Running. He helped start America's fitness revolution, popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging.
Don Kardong – past-president of the Road Runners Club of America
Fred Lebow (1932–1994) – long-time head of the NY Road Runners and creator of the "big city" marathon format
Bill Rodgers – influential runner as both an open and master runner
Steve Roland "Pre" Prefontaine (January 25, 1951 – May 30, 1975) 1971 Olympiad, lifetime runner, 1970s running icon, auto-accident death.