Road running in a U.S. Air Force marathon

People taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon

Athletes at the start of a 10-mile race in Gloucestershire, UK, 1990

Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road (as opposed to track and cross country running). These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners or wheelchair entrants. Road running is part of a group of road events known as "road races". Road running is one aspect in the overall sport of athletics.

Road running may offer those involved a range of challenges and interests such as dealing with hills, sharp bends, varied surfaces, inclement weather, and involvement in a large group. Aerobic fitness, or the ability of the body to use oxygen, is the biggest factor contributing to success.^{[citation needed]}

The impact of running on roads puts more stress on the feet, knees and lower back than running on dirt or grass. It can compensate by providing a consistent, level surface. It may put less strain on the Achilles tendon.^[1]

Courses[link]

Race courses are usually held on the streets of major cities and towns, but can be on any road. The IAAF recognizes nine common distances for road races: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), 15 kilometres (9.3 mi), 20 kilometres (12 mi), half-marathon (21.097 km or 13.1 mi), 25 kilometres (16 mi), 30 kilometres (19 mi), marathon (42.195 km or 26.2 mi), 100 kilometres (62 mi), and Ekiden marathon relay.^[2] Other common distances include 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), 8 kilometres (5.0 mi), 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), and 10 miles (16 km).

Some major events have unique distances. The "Round the Bays" run in Auckland, New Zealand is 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi); the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, Cape Cod is 7.1 miles (11.4 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"^[3] is 32 kilometres (20 mi) long; and the "Charleston Distance Run" in Charleston, West Virginia is 15 miles (24 km).

Most road race courses have a certificate of course accuracy which confirms that they have been measured with an accuracy of better than 0.1%, i.e. to within 10 m for a 10 km race.^[4] It is common for formally certified courses to be intentionally lengthened by one metre per km to ensure that they are not short. Measurement is normally done by means of a calibrated bicycle fitted with a Jones Counter. If a world record is set on a race course, the course is independently remeasured to verify that it was the correct length.

Ultrarunning[link]

Running that covers a distance farther than a marathon is called ultrarunning; the event is an ultramarathon. Such events can be measured in distance (for example, 100 kilometers) or by time (whoever has run the farthest after 24 hours). Examples include the London to Brighton run in England which is just over 54 miles (87 km), the Comrades Marathon run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa which is about 89 kilometres (55 mi), and the Badwater Ultramarathon between Death Valley and Mount Whitney in the United States which is 135 miles (217 km) (with a net elevation gain of over 4,500 meters, almost 15,000 feet).

Multiday running[link]

Beyond the ultramarathon lie the multiday and stage races. These events include current events such as the Self-Transcendence 6 & 10 day and 3100 mile races in New York, Trans-America, Trans-Gaul, Trans-Korea, Trans-Europe race and the cross Germany race - the Deutschlandlauf. In these events runners have to complete as many miles as possible in the given time limit - the go-as-you-please style or have to complete a given distance in a set time such as the daily stages of the trans-country races where cut-offs are enforced.

Participation[link]

Road running is unique among athletic events because in many cases first time amateurs are welcome to participate in the same event as members of running clubs and even current world-class champions. Though often race times are recorded manually by race organizers, sometimes road races feature electronic timing using transponders.

Road races are often community-wide events that highlight or raise money for an issue or project. In the USA, Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure is held nationwide to raise breast cancer awareness. This race is also run in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. Similarly, Race for Life holds races throughout the UK to raise money for Cancer Research. 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.^[5]

Governing body and international organisations[link]

The international governing body for road racing is the IAAF. National governing bodies which are affiliated to the IAAF are responsible for road races held in their country. Of 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 the Amateur Sports Act of 1978.

Competitors from around the world participate in what are dubbed the "elite" races for cash prizes. Kenyans and Ethiopians are renowned for their skill and it is rare for a race's top finishers not to include competitors from these countries. Elite level road running series include the World Marathon Majors, the Great Run series, and IAAF Road Race Label Events.

See also[link]

• Fell running
• Cross country running
• List of largest running events
• Orienteering
• Track running
• Trail running

References[link]

External links[link]

• Road Runners Club of America
• Association of Road Racing Statisticians
• Running USA
• Road Runners Club UK
• British Association of Road Races
• New York Road Runners
• 5k race directory

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Petter Northug
Personal information
Full name	Petter Northug Jr.
Born	(1986-01-06) 6 January 1986 (age 26) Mosvik, Norway
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Professional information
Club	Strindheim IL
Skis	Fischer
World Cup
Seasons	2005–
Wins	13
Additional podiums	12
Total podiums	25

Medal record
Men's cross country skiing
Competitor for  Norway
Olympic Games
Gold	2010 Vancouver	50 km classical
Gold	2010 Vancouver	Team sprint
Silver	2010 Vancouver	4×10 km relay
Bronze	2010 Vancouver	Individual sprint
World Championships
Gold	2007 Sapporo	4×10 km
Gold	2009 Liberec	15 km + 15 km skiathlon
Gold	2009 Liberec	50 km
Gold	2009 Liberec	4×10 km
Gold	2011 Oslo	15 km + 15 km skiathlon
Gold	2011 Oslo	50 km
Gold	2011 Oslo	4×10 km
Silver	2011 Oslo	Sprint
Silver	2011 Oslo	Team sprint

Petter Northug Jr. (born 6 January 1986) is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and 11 individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 23 podium places.

Early life and career[link]

During his first years, Northug was generally considered a star of the future. Whilst he was still a junior Verdens Gang newspaper reported in November 2005 that "the ski manufacturers are fighting to get Northug".^[1] Fischer won his signature, and his contract included a base salary (the first time ever for a junior), which would be multiplied by five if he made the Norwegian elite team for 2006/07, which he did. The contract also offered bonuses if he won medals in the junior World Championships.

Northug has six gold medals from junior World Championships. His first two gold medals came in 2004/05 in the pursuit and the 10 km freestyle in Rovaniemi, then in 2005/06 in Kranj he won gold in the 10 km classic, the pursuit, the sprint, and the relay. He also has two silver medals (one in the sprint, and one in the relay, both in 2004/05). His victories made him the first athlete ever to win five individual gold medals at the FIS Junior Nordic World Ski Championships. During 2005/06 he also took part in the Norwegian National Championships, and won the double pursuit race, beating Frode Estil by 1.9 seconds, and became the first junior to ever win a Norwegian National Championship.

Before he joined the World Cup he competed in a few Continental Cup meetings, but mostly in the Scandinavian Cup. During his Scandinavian Cup career (2004/05 & 2005/06) he had seven podium finishes, he came second once in 2004/05, and in 2005/06 he scored four victories, and two second places.

Athletic career[link]

The 2005/06 season was Northug's first in the World Cup, although he competed in one race the season before, a sprint in Drammen, he came 35th. During the 2005/06 season he shared his time equally between the World Cup and the Scandinavian Cup, although in early May 2006 it was announced that Northug would be in the senior national team for the 2006/07 season.^[2] Northug also claimed his first World Cup victory in the 2005/06 season, in a pursuit race in Falun, beating 2005/06 World Cup winner Tobias Angerer, who came second, and 2004/05 overall champion Axel Teichmann was third.^[3] Then in the last race of the year, a pursuit in Sapporo he claimed another podium place, coming second.^[4] He lost to Mathias Fredriksson by 3.8 seconds. He also came seventh, tenth, and twelfth in sprint races, and fifteenth in the 50 km freestyle in Holmenkollen. Northug finished the 2005/06 World Cup season in 14th place overall. He also finished 14th in the distance standings, and 24th in the sprint.^[5]

After Norway's disappointing display at the 2006 Winter Olympics, the Norwegian press questioned why Northug was not taken to the games. Northug himself admitted he was disappointed after not getting selected, especially as he had won the double pursuit in the National Championships earlier in the year.^[6]

Northug won his first gold medal at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo as a member of the 4 x 10 km relay in 2007. He added three more golds at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec, earning them in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit, 4 x 10 km relay and 50 km freestyle mass start.

Northug was the runner up to the overall World Cup in the 2008/2009 season, losing to the Swiss Dario Cologna after leading before the final races.

Northug finished in an extremely disappointing 41st place in the first Cross Country event during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. A day later, Northug responded with a bronze medal in the Sprint Event. This success was short lived however, as he broke his pole in the end of the 30 km pursuit. He then won his first Olympic gold, in the Team Sprint, alongside Øystein Pettersen.

Days later he was skiing the anchor leg in the 4 x 10 km relay. When he took over from Lars Berger who was skiing the 3rd leg, he was 37.5 seconds behind the lead group. Despite this he managed to perform his incredibly fast finish to catch and overtake France and the Czech Republic to win Norway a silver medal.

Northug won the Men's 50 kilometre classic at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Less than two weeks later, he won the 50 kilometre freestyle event at the Holmenkollen, becoming the first skier to win the 50 km at the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Holmenkollen since Sweden's Gunde Svan reached that triple crown in 1988.

In September 2010 details of Northug's sponsorship contract with soft drink manufacturer Red Bull were publicized by Norwegian broadcaster TV 2, which did not divulge its sources, revealing the most profitable sponsorship agreement with an individual athlete in Norwegian history. For four years, until after the 2014 Winter Olympics, Northug will be receiving a minimum of NOK 1 million annually with a prospect of getting twice the amount if his performances equal those in his most recent seasons.^[7] During the 2011 World Championship, he gained widespread international attention when he controversially crossed the finish-line sideways after convincingly beating his opponents. The gesture was regarded (by media, not said by Hellner) as utterly disrespectful, most notably towards his most fierce rival, Marcus Hellner.

Northug did not start the 2010-2011 season well, missing the first three weeks of the world cup due illness. His Tour de Ski campaign was also marred by poor results (to his standard) in the opening stages. He however climbed the rankings and finished 2nd after winning the prestigious penultimate stage (20 km classical mass start) in Val di Fiemme (taking all intermediate bonus sprints as well which has never been done by the winner of the race). In the Holmenkollen World Ski Championship Northug raced in five disciplines, taking 3 gold and 2 silver medals. At the end of the season Northug also won the Season Finale in Sweden, beating his compatriot Finn Haagen Krogh.

As of 2012, Northug is far and wide unmatched as to number of medals among the active cross country skiers. His tally of 13 Olympic and World Championship medals (9 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) stands tall above his peers: Tobias Angerer 11 (0-6-5), Axel Teichmann 10 (2-7-1), Jens Filbrich 9 (0-4-5), Giorgio di Centa 7 (2-2-3), Pietro Piller Cottrer 7 (2-2-3), Anders Soedergren 7 (1-3-3), Marcus Hellner 5 (3-1-1), Eldar Roenning 5 (3-1-1), Johann Olson 5 (1-1-3), Lars Berger 4 (3-1-0), Lukas Bauer 4 (0-2-2), Ola Vigen Hattestad 3 (2-1-0), Martin Johnsrud Sundby 3 (1-1-1), Daniel Rickardsson 2 (1-1-0), Tord Asle Gjerdalen 2 (1-0-1), Matti Heikinen 2 (1-0-1), Dario Cologna 1 (1-0-0). He has also already surpassed recently retired champions Frode Estil 13 (6-4-3) and Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset 10 (5-1-4). Northug is however still to match his legendary predecessor Bjoern Daehlie with his 29 (17-9-3) Olympic and World Championship medals.

Personal life[link]

He has two brothers, Even and Tomas.^[8] Northug finished school in 2006, but during the summer of 2005 he changed schools from Steinkjer to Meråker and moved into a cabin next to the ski trails to optimize his training conditions.^[9]

Petter Northug participated and cashed (on 653rd place) in the 2010 World Series of Poker main event which he played with close friend and rival Marcus Hellner.^[10]

Career highlights[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Petter Northug

• Petter Northug, jr. at the International Ski Federation
• Official website (Norwegian)

Therese Johaug
Personal information
Full name	Therese Johaug
Born	(1988-06-25) 25 June 1988 (age 24) Os, Hedmark, Norway
World Cup
Seasons	2007-present
Wins	3
Additional podiums	16
Total podiums	19
Medal record Women's cross country skiing Competitor for  Norway Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver 4x5 km relay World Championships Gold 2011 Oslo 30 km freestyle Gold 2011 Oslo 4 x 5 km relay Bronze 2011 Oslo 15 km pursuit Bronze 2007 Sapporo 30 km classic Junior World Championships Gold 2008 Malles 5 km classic Gold 2008 Malles 10 km mass start Bronze 2007 Tarvisio pursuit

Therese Johaug (born 25 June 1988 in Os, Hedmark) is a Norwegian cross-country skier. Johaug has competed for the clubs Tynset IF and IL Nansen.^[1]

Athletic career[link]

After skiing some domestic races in the 2006 season, Johaug took part at the Norwegian Championships in 2007, winning a bronze at the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit event.^[2] She was selected for two World Cup races prior to the World Championships, finishing eighth and 33rd in two interval start races over 10 km, which was enough to be selected for competition in the 30 km distance at the 2007 Sapporo World Championships where she won a surprising bronze medal.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she won gold in the 4 x 5 km relay, sixth in the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit and seventh in the 30 km mass start race.

Johaug won her first individual gold medal in the 30 km mass start race at the 2011 World Championships in Oslo. She also won gold in the 4 x 5 km relay, bronze in the 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit and fourth in the 10 km individual start.

References[link]

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