Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres.

The
standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000
metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. [1] The 1500 m came about as a result of
running three laps of a 500 m track, which was commonplace in continental Europe in the 20th
century.[2]

Events[edit]
600 yards[edit]
This was a popular distance, particularly indoors, when imperial distances were common. In 1882,
American Lon Myers set what was then a world record at 600 yards (548.64 metres), running it in
1:11.4.[3] The event was a common event for most American students because it was one of the
standardized test events as part of the President's Award on Physical Fitness.[4]In the early
1970s, Martin McGrady was unsuccessful at longer or shorter races, but made his reputation, set
world records and drew many fans to arenas to watch him race elite Olympians at this odd distance.

600 metres[edit]
This middle distance length is rather uncommon, and is mainly run by sprinters wishing to test their
endurances at a longer distance. Like other middle distance races, it evolved from the 600 yard race.
The 600 m is also used as an early season stepping stone by 800 m runners before they have
reached full race fitness.
Johnny Gray (United States) holds the record for men: 1:12.81, Santa Monica, 24 May 1986.
Ana Fidelia Quirot (Cuba) holds the women's record: 1:22.63, Guadalajara, 25 July 1997.

800 metres[edit]
Main article: 800 metres
The 800 m consists of two laps around a standard 400 m track, and has always been
an Olympic event. It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended until
1960 because of shock and the exhaustion it caused the competitors. Without the benefits of
modern training, men of the era were, in contrast, expected to run themselves to complete
exhaustion during competitions[citation needed].
David Rudisha (Kenya) is the current recordholder: 1:40.91, London, 9 August 2012. Jarmila
Kratochvlov (Czechoslovakia) set the current women's record: 1:53.28, Munich, 26 July 1983.[5]

880 yards[edit]
The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the 800 m distance and has its roots in
competitions in the United Kingdom in the 1830s.[6]

1000 metres[edit]

This distance is not commonly raced, though it is more common than the 500 m event is for
sprinters. This is commonly raced as an indoor men's heptathlon event, or as an indoor high school
event. In 1881, Lon Myers set what was then a world record at 1000 yards, running it in 2:13.0. [3]
The men's record is held by Noah Ngeny (Kenya) (2:11.96, Rieti, 5 September 1999), while Svetlana
Masterkova (Russia) set the women's record (2:28.98, Brussels, 23 August 1996).[5]
See also 1000 metres world record progression.

1500 metres[edit]
Main article: 1500 metres
Also known as the metric mile, this is a premier middle-distance race, covering three and threequarter laps around a standard Olympic-sized track. In recent years, races over this distance have
become more of a prolonged sprint, with each lap averaging 55 seconds for the world record
performance by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco: 3:26.00 on 14 July 1998 at Rome (two 1:50 s 800
m performances back to back).[5] Thus, speed is necessary, and it seems that the more aerobic
conditioning, the better. Qu Yunxia (China) hold the women's record: 3:50.46Beijing 11 September
1993.[5]
This is a difficult distance at which to compete mentally, in addition to being one of the more tactical
middle-distance track events. The distance is often witness to some of the most tactical, physical
races in the sport, as many championship races are won in the final few metres. For women:

1600 metres[edit]
At exactly four laps of a normal 400 m track, this distance is raced as a near replacement for the
mile (it is, in fact, 9.344 m, about 30.6 feet, shorter; however, it is still colloquially referred to as "the
mile"). The 1600 meters is the official distance for this range of races in US high schools. While this
race is rarely run outside high school and collegiate invitational competition, it has been held at the
international level. The 1500 m, however, is the most common distance run at the college and
international levels. The final leg of a distance medley relay is 1600 metres.
An accurate way to run an actual mile on a metric track is to run the additional 9.344 meters before
starting the first marked 400 meter lap. Many tracks, especially high-level tracks, will have a waterfall
starting line drawn 9.344 meters back for this purpose. Otherwise, on a metric track, there will be a
relay zone 10 meters before the common start/finish line, frequently marked by a triangle pointed
toward the finish. In many configurations, that triangle is about half a meter wide, making its point
extremely close to the mile start line, which would be slightly less than two feet from the marked
relay zone (the widest part of the triangle, or line).[8]

Mile[edit]
Main article: Mile run

This length of middle-distance race, 1760 yards, (1609.344 metres), is very common in countries
that do not use the metric system, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the track.
When the International Amateur Athletic Federation decided in 1976 to recognize only world records
for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day.
Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class
level, but usually only at select occasions, like the famous Wanamaker Mile, held annually at
the Millrose Games. Running a mile in less than four minutes is a famously difficult achievement,
long thought impossible by the scientific community. The first man to break the four-minute
barrier was Englishman Roger Bannister at Oxford in 1954.
The current record holders are Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco) (3:43.13, Rome, 7 July 1999)
and Svetlana Masterkova (Russia) (4:12.56, Zrich, 14 August 1996).[5]

2000 metres[edit]
Another event that is rarely run, a miler's speed will generally allow him/her to prevail at this distance
over less balanced challengers.
Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco) (4:44.79, Berlin, 7 September 1999) and Sonia O'Sullivan (Ireland)
(5:25.36, Edinburgh, 8 July 1994) are currently the fastest at this distance. [5]

3000 metres[edit]
Main article: 3000 metres
Truly on the borderline between middle and longer distances, the 3000 m (7.5 laps) is a standard
race in the United States, though it is not raced at the outdoor IAAF World Championships. This race
requires decent speed, but a lack of natural quickness can be made up for with superior aerobic
conditioning and race tactics. The records at this distance were set by Daniel Komen (Kenya)
(7:20.67, Rieti, 1 September 1996) and Junxia Wang (China) (8:06.11, Beijing, 13 September 1993).
[5]

3200 metres[edit]
At exactly eight laps on a standard 400 m track, this event is typically run only in American high
schools, along with the 1600 m. It is colloquially called the "two-mile", as the distance is only 18.688
metres shorter. In college, the typical runner of this event would convert to the 5,000 metre run (or
potentially the 3,000 metre run during indoor season). It should be noted that in most eastern
American high schools, colleges, and middle schools, this event is usually considered a longdistance event, depending on the region. It is the longest track distance run in most high school
competitions.[9]

Two miles[edit]
Main article: Two miles

This length of long middle-distance or short long-distance race was 3520 yards (3218.688 metres).
Historically, the two mile took the place that the 3000 m and the 3200 m have today. The first man to
break the four-minute barrier for both miles was Daniel Komen (Kenya) at Hechtel, Belgium on 19
July 1997, and his time of 7:58.61 remains a world record. Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) is the fastest
woman: 8:58.58, Brussels, Belgium, 14 September 2007.

Long-distance running
Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of
at least three kilometres (1.86 miles). Physiologically, it is largely aerobic in nature and
requires stamina as well as mental strength.[1]
In the sport of athletics, long-distance events are defined as races covering three kilometres (1.86
miles) and above. The three most common types are track running, road running and cross country
running, all of which are defined by their terrain all-weather tracks, roads and natural terrain,
respectively. Typical long-distance track races range from 3000 metres to 10,000 metres (6.2 miles),
cross country races usually cover 5 to 12 km (3 to 7 miles), while road races can be significantly
longer, reaching 100 kilometres (60 miles) and beyond. In collegiate cross country races in the
United States, men race 8000 or 10000 meters, depending on their division, whereas women race
6000 meters[2]. The Summer Olympics features three long-distance running events: the 5000
metres, 10,000 m and marathon (42.195 kilometres, or 26 miles and 385 yards). Since the late
1980s, Kenyans and Ethiopians have dominated in the long-distance competitions of international
multi-sport events.[8]

Running competitions

5000 metres
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Athletics
5000 metres

5000 metres at Osaka 2007.

Men's records

World

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 12:37.35 (2004)

Olympic

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 12:57.82 (2008)

Women's records

World

Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 14:11.15 (2008)

Olympic

Gabriela Szabo (ROM) 14:40.79 (2000)

The 5000 metres or 5000-meter run (approximately 3.1 mi or 16,404 ft) is a common long-distance
running event in track and field. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World
Championships in Athletics. The 5000 m track race is usually distinguished from its road
running counterpart, the 5K run, by referring to the distance in metres, rather than kilometres.
The 5000 m has been present on the Olympic programme since 1912 for men and since 1996 for
women. Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984. The
5000 m is a standard international championship racing distance and has been held at the World
Championships in Athletics since its first edition in 1983.
The event is almost the same length as the dolichos race held at the Ancient Olympic Games,
introduced in 720 BCE. While mainly run as an outdoor event, the 5000 m is sometimes run on an
indoor track. The IAAF keeps official records for both outdoor and indoor 5000 m track events.[1][2]

Much of the distance's popularity is due to the challenge it offers to both novices and accomplished
professionals. It is a distance race that demands a great deal of aerobic endurance. While speed is
necessary, tactics also play a key role, and the combination makes it attractive to many.[citation needed]

10,000 metres
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Athletics
10,000 metres

10,000 metres at Sydney 2000.

Men's records

World

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 26:17.53 (2005)

Olympic

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 27:01.17 (2008)

Women's records

World

Wang Junxia (CHN) 29:31.78 (1993)

Olympic

Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 29:54.66 (2008)

The 10,000 metres or 10,000-meter run is a common long-distance track running event. The event
is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Championships in
Athletics and is common at championship level events. It is less commonly held at track and field

meetings, due to its duration. The 10,000 metres track race is usually distinguished from its road
running counterpart, the10K run, by the referring to the distance in metres, rather than kilometres.
The 10,000 metres is the longest standard track event. The international distance is equal to
approximately 6.2137 miles (or, approximately 32,808.4 feet). Most of those running such races also
compete in road races and cross country events.

Taisto Mki breaks the 30-minute barrier in 1939.

Added to the Olympic program in 1912, athletes from Finland, nicknamed the "Flying Finns",
dominated the event until the late 1940s. In the 1960s, African runners began to come to the fore.
[1]

In 1988, the women's competition debuted in the Olympic Games.

Official records are kept for outdoor 10,000 metres track events.[2] The world record for men is held
by Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia in 26:17.53, posted at Brussels, Belgium on August 26, 2005. For
women, the world track 10,000 metres record is held by Wang Junxia ofChina in 29:31.78 on
September 8, 1993.
The 10,000 metres demands exceptional levels of aerobic endurance, and elite athletes typically
train in excess of 160 km (100 miles) a week.[citation needed]

Road running[edit]

Women runners on a closed-off road at the 2009 Yokohama Marathon.

Main articles: Road running and Marathon race

Long-distance road running competitions are mainly conducted on courses
of paved or tarmac roads, although major events often finish on the track of a main stadium. In
addition to being a common recreational sport, the elite level of the sport particularly marathon
races are one of the most popular aspects of athletics. Road racing events can be of virtually any
distance, but the most common and well known are the marathon, half marathon and 10 km run.
The 1896 Summer Olympics saw the birth of the modern marathon and the event led to the growth
of road running competitions through annual public events such as the Boston Marathon (first held in
1897) and the Lake Biwa Marathon and Fukuoka Marathons, which were established in the 1940s.
The 1970s running boom in the United States made road running a common pastime and also
increased its popularity at the elite level.[35]
The marathon is the only road running event featured at the IAAF World Championships in
Athletics and the Summer Olympics, although there is also the IAAF World Half Marathon
Championships held every two years. The marathon is also the only road running event featured at
the IPC Athletics World Championships and the Summer Paralympics. The World Marathon
Majors series includes the six most prestigious marathon competitions at the elite level
the Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and New York City marathons. The Tokyo Marathon
was most recently added to the World Marathon Majors in 2012.[36] )