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.
31-612: The Dublin Marathon is an annual 26.2 mile (42.2 km) road marathon in Dublin, Ireland, held on the last Sunday in October. Prior to 2016, the race took place on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, the marathon had a record 22,500 registrants for the 2019 race, including over 5,000 entrants from outside Ireland. The race was founded in 1980 by
62-442: A marathon . It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcuts. If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct. A half marathon world record
93-488: A group led by Noel Carroll , who persuaded the Business Houses Athletic Association (BHAA) to take up the idea. In the first year, 2,100 took part, of whom 1,420 finished. Dick Hooper of Raheny club Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club claimed first place, in a time of 2:16:14. The women's winner was Carey May who finished in 2:42:11. That year's runner-up was Neil Cusack , who returned in 1981 to post
124-487: 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
155-449: A winning time of 2:13:59. Jerry Kiernan 's 1982 time of 2:13:45 was a long-standing men's course record. This was finally improved upon by Lezan Kipkosgei Kimutai over twenty years later in 2004, but Russian runner Aleksey Sokolov twice broke the record with consecutive wins in 2006/07, running 2:11:39 then 2:09:07 the next year. Moses Kangogo Kibet became the first man under 2:09 in Dublin with his win in 2:08:58. The current men's record
186-497: 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
217-435: Is 2:08:06 set by Othmane El Goumri in 2019. Moira O'Neill was the first woman under two hours and forty minutes with her win of 2:37:06 in 1988 and home athlete Christine Kennedy improved this with a run of 2:35:56 three years later. Kenyan Ruth Kutol win in 2:27:22 in 2003 was the first sub-2:30 time and Russian Tatyana Aryasova broke this record in 2010 with her current women's record of 2:26:13. The participation level of
248-668: 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
279-505: Is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a marathon does. In 2008, Running USA reported that the half marathon is the fastest-growing type of race. The concept of the half-marathon emerged in the 1960s. The first half marathon was the Route du Vin Half Marathon founded in 1961. Although the race was technically not the official current distance until it
310-672: 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
341-568: 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
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#1732859030251372-572: Is officially recognised by World Athletics . The men's world record time, pending ratification, is 57:30, set by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in October 2024 in Valencia, Spain . The women's world record, in a mixed-gender race, is 1:02:52, set by Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in October 2021 in Valencia, Spain . In a female-only race, the women's world record is 1:05:16, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya in October 2020. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily since 2003, partly because it
403-560: 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,
434-417: 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
465-582: 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 . Half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres (13 miles 192.5 yards)—half the distance of
496-501: The October bank holiday Monday to attract more overseas runners. The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic , with all entries made valid for the following year and all registrants given the option of obtaining a full refund. The course is generally reasonably flat. It starts at Fitzwilliam Square in the city centre and concludes at Merrion Square . Exact routing varies, although in recent years
527-544: The 2016 event. In 2001 the marathon became part of the Dublin Race Series, which includes pre-marathon events of 5 miles, 10 kilometres, 10 miles and half marathon distance over the preceding months, run in the Phoenix Park and Swords. A competitor died while running in the 2006 marathon, and another in the 2013 marathon. In October 2015, it was announced that from 2016 the marathon would be held on Sunday rather than
558-410: 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
589-468: 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
620-477: 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
651-451: 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
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#1732859030251682-422: The race has followed an upward trend: by 1988 the number of participants had increased to 8,700 – up from the 4,000 the previous year. It was not until 2000 that the 1988 participation record was finally broken when 8,900 took part. An increasing number of people took part every year in the late 2000s, with 11,000 at the 2007 edition. Entry levels have since increased significantly year-on-year with 19,500 completing
713-809: The race has proceeded in an anti-clockwise direction around the city, including passing through the Phoenix Park before moving towards the southside suburbs. The marathon is part of a race series that includes four other races: the Fingal 4 Mile, the South Dublin 10K, the Frank Duffy 10 Mile, and the Dublin Half Marathon. The overall winner receives the Noel Carroll Memorial Trophy. Both winners also receive 12,000 EUR. Key : Only male winners of
744-570: 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
775-463: 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
806-417: 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
837-662: 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
868-581: 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
899-516: The wheelchair division have been recorded, with the exceptions of 2002, 2004 and 2005. 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
930-531: 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
961-604: Was standardized in 1995. The event grew in popularity leading to the eventual establishment of the World Athletics Road Running Championships in 1992, originally titled the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58:43: Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:05:07: This table lists the best half marathon performances per year since 1970, as recorded by