Running

Not to be confused with Gait.
For other uses, see Run (disambiguation), Runner (disambiguation), Runners (disambiguation), and Running (disambiguation).

Marathon runners at Carlsbad Marathon, US, 2013
Video of human running action

Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion by which humans and other animals move rapidly on foot. Running is a gait with an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions).[1] This is in contrast to walking, where one foot is always in contact with the ground, the legs are kept mostly straight, and the center of gravity vaults over the stance leg or legs in an inverted pendulum fashion.[2] A feature of a running body from the viewpoint of spring-mass mechanics is that changes in kinetic and potential energy within a stride co-occur, with energy storage accomplished by springy tendons and passive muscle elasticity.[3] The term "running" can refer to a variety of speeds ranging from jogging to sprinting.

Running in humans is associated with improved health and life expectancy.[4]

It is hypothesized that the ancestors of humankind developed the ability to run for long distances about 2.6 million years ago, probably to hunt animals.[5][6] Competitive running grew out of religious festivals in various areas. Records of competitive racing date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland between 632 BCE and 1171 BCE,[7][8][9] while the first recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE. Running has been described as the world's most accessible sport.[10]

  1. ^ Rubenson, Jonas; Heliams, Denham B.; Lloyd, David G.; Fournier, Paul A. (22 May 2004). "Gait selection in the ostrich: mechanical and metabolic characteristics of walking and running with and without an aerial phase". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 271 (1543): 1091–1099. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2702. PMC 1691699. PMID 15293864.
  2. ^ Biewener, A. A. 2003. Animal Locomotion. Oxford University Press, US. ISBN 978-0-19-850022-3, books.google.com
  3. ^ Cavagna, G. A.; Saibene, F. P.; Margaria, R. (1964). "Mechanical Work in Running". Journal of Applied Physiology. 19 (2): 249–256. doi:10.1152/jappl.1964.19.2.249. PMID 14155290.
  4. ^ Pedisic, Zeljko; Shrestha, Nipun; Kovalchik, Stephanie; Stamatakis, Emmanuel; Liangruenrom, Nucharapon; Grgic, Jozo; Titze, Sylvia; Biddle, Stuart JH; Bauman, Adrian E; Oja, Pekka (4 November 2019). "Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis" (PDF). British Journal of Sports Medicine. 54 (15): bjsports–2018–100493. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-100493. PMID 31685526. S2CID 207895264. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Born To Run – Humans can outrun nearly every other animal on the planet over long distances". Discover Magazine. 2006. p. 3.
  6. ^ Heinrich, Bernd (7 May 2009). Why we run: A natural history. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0060958701.
  7. ^ "Running | the Gale Encyclopedia of Fitness - Credo Reference".
  8. ^ Alpha, Rob (2015). What Is Sport: A Controversial Essay About Why Humans Play Sports. BookBaby. ISBN 9781483555232.
  9. ^ "History of Running". Health and Fitness History. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  10. ^ Soviet Sport: The Success Story. p. 49, V. Gerlitsyn, 1987