Distance running, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica is any foot race that ranges from 3,000 meters to 42,195 kilometers (basic length for marathon). It includes sprints, middle distance, long distance, marathon, ultra running, and multiday running. Olympic events are held on track with length ranges between 5,000 to 10,000-metre races and marathons are held on roads. However, in the book Running, John A. Hawley qualified events from 800 to 5,000 m as ‘middle distance’ and events at 10,000 m or longer as ‘distance’ races. Races longer than 42.2 km are considered ‘ultra-distance.’
The research paper Nature authored by Dr. Daniel Lieberman of Harvard University and Dennis M. Bramble of the University of Utah, shows how distance running plays a significant step in the development of the human species. The ability for endurance or distance running originated two million years ago and believed as “instrumental in the evolution of the human body form.
Naturally, our species are talented endurance runners as evident in the fossils collected in Africa. The bones were primitive hunters who run animals to death even on a hot weather. “No other animals could run in distance even on a hot day than humans,” says Dr. Lieberman. He further wrote that “the fastest human can run an average of 10 meters for about 10 seconds.
“Running is the most elemental sport there is,” wrote John Jerome, author of the book The Elements of Effort. Humans are genetically programmed to run and incredibly good at it. But in modern times how could a person enhance his ability to run and pursue a sport? Jack Daniels coach and author of the book Daniel’s Running Formula says, that “there are four key ingredients in distance running.” These are inherent ability, motivation, opportunity and direction. …. Get The Rest Of The Articles
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