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

v t e Racing   Running Track running Sprinting · Middle distance running · Long-distance track event  · Relay race  · Hurdling  · Steeplechase Road running Marathon · Half marathon · Ultramarathon · Ekiden Off-road running Adventure running · Cross country running · Fell running · Trail running Other Tower running  · Racewalking   Orienteering Foot orienteering  · Mountain bike orienteering  · Ski orienteering  · Trail orienteering  · Radio orienteering  · Canoe orienteering  · Rogaining  · Mountain marathon  · Car orienteering   Bicycle racing Road bicycle racing · Cyclo-cross · Mountain bike racing · Track cycling · BMX racing · Cycle speedway · Keirin   Animal racing Camel racing · Greyhound racing · Horse racing · Pigeon racing · Sled dog racing   Swimming Open water swimming  · Marathon swimming  · Paralympic swimming   Motorsport Air racing Red Bull Air Race World Championship · Schneider Trophy Auto racing Formula One · IndyCar Series · Formula Three · Formula racing · Touring car racing · Stock car racing · Rallying · Drag racing · Off-road racing Motorboat racing Drag boat racing · Hydroplane racing · Jet sprint boat racing  · Offshore powerboat racing  · F1 Powerboat World Championship Other Motorcycle sport  · Kart racing   Multi-sport racing Duathlon  · Triathlon List of forms of racing

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 15

Year 15 (XV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Flaccus (or, less frequently, year 768 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 15 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events[link]

By place[link]

Roman Empire[link]

• Emona (currently Ljubljana) is founded by Legio XV Apollinaris.
• Germanicus fights a drawn battle with Arminius in the Teutoburg Forest.
• Germanicus captures Thusnelda, the wife of Arminius.^[1]
• Legio XXI Rapax is stationed in Regensburg.
• In Rome, the selection of civil servants passes from the people to the Emperor and the Senate.
• Valerius Gratus is appointed Prefect of Iudaea.
• The river Tiber floods parts of Rome.^[2]

By topic[link]

Arts and sciences[link]

• Biography of Augustus by Nicholas of Damascus is published.

Births[link]

• September 24 – Vitellius, Roman Emperor
• November 6 – Agrippina the younger, Roman empress (or possibly 16) (d. 59)

Deaths[link]

• Lucius Seius Strabo, Praetorian prefect

References[link]

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)

Medal record
Eldar Rønning at Tour de Ski 2007 in Prague.
Men's cross country skiing
World Championships
Gold	2007 Sapporo	4 x 10 km
Gold	2009 Liberec	4 x 10 km
Gold	2011 Oslo	4 x 10 km
Silver	2011 Oslo	15 km
Bronze	2007 Sapporo	Individual sprint

Eldar Rønning (born June 11, 1982 in Levanger) is a Norwegian cross-country skier. He skis with the Skogn IL club, in Nord-Trøndelag. He's 178 cm (5'10") tall and weighs 73 kg (161 lb, 11 st 7 lb). He skis with Rossignol boots and skis, and Rottefella bindings.

In 2004/05, he achieved three podium finishes in World Cup Sprint events, including a win at Reit im Winkl. He finished the season in 10th, 235 points behind overall winner Axel Teichmann. He was 62nd in the distance standings, 520 points behind Teichmann, and came second in the sprint discipline, 237 points behind fellow countryman Tor Arne Hetland. He also came second in the sprint discipline at the Norwegian national championships.

Rønning shared the 2005/06 season between the World Cup and the Scandinavian Cup, competing almost exclusively in sprints. He only competed in one World Cup race that was not either a sprint or a pursuit, it was a 15km classic style race in Davos, Rønning finished 30th, 1:25.9 behind winner Jens Arne Svartedal. His best World Cup result was a third place avchieved in a classic sprint in Drammen, a race in which the top four were Norwegian, and was won again by Svartedal. Rønning also came fifth twice, both in sprints, his only other race in the World Cup when he finished inside the top 20, was a 16th place in a sprint, in Oberstdorf. Rønning finished the season in 11th place in the FIS World Cup overall standings, 474 points behind German Tobias Angerer. Rønning was 28th in the distance standings, 671 points behind Angerer, and 7th in the sprint standings, 349 points behind sprint winner Björn Lind.

Rønning has won 6 world cup races (15 km classical - 3 times, classical sprint - twice, and freestyle sprint) and 3 world cup stages (all in Tour de Ski, 30 km classical mass start, 20 km classical mass start, classical sprint). In addition he has 8 individual world cup podiums.

Rønning has earned 5 medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships with three golds (4 x 10 km relay 2007, 2009, 2011), one silver (15 km classical 2011) and a bronze (classical sprint 2007).

References[link]

• Eldar Roenning at the International Ski Federation
• Rønning's official website

Maxim Mikhailovich Vylegzhanin (Russian: Максим Михайлович Вылегжанин) (born October 18, 1982 in Sharkan, Udmurtia) is a Russian cross country skier who has competed since 2002. Height 170 cm. First World Cup start 22.01.2005 Pragelato (ITA). He won a silver medal in the 50 km event (time: 1:59:38:8 - average speed 25,1 km/h) at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec.

Vylegzhanin's best individual World Cup finish was first place in the 30 km in La Clusaz in December 2010. He has a total of four victories ranging from pursuit to 50 km between 2007 and 2008, all in lesser events.

Vylegzhanin also finished eighth in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Vylegzhanin was not allowed to start in FIS races due to high hemoglobin levels several times, for example during the FIS Tour de Ski 2009-2010 after a no-notice doping test in Tauplitz while he was training with the Russian team. End of December 2010 Vylegzhanin again was not allowed to start in the FIS Tour de Ski. This happened some days after his surprising victory over Petter Northug (Norway) on the finishline in La Clusaz (France). Commenting on this case, FIS race director Jürg Capol (Switzerland) pointed out that it is possible for athletes to register exceptionally high hemoglobin levels with the FIS, if caused by genetical reasons. This however was not the case with Vylegzhanin. About 8 weeks after this occurrence Vylegzhanin is taking part in the FIS World Championships 2011 in Oslo (Norway) placing second with Petter Northug (Norway) winning the race and Russian Ilia Chernousov placing third in the 30 km. He won once again a silver medal in the 50 km on the 6th of March 2011, finishing just behind Petter Northug.

References[link]

• Maxim Vylegzhanin at the International Ski Federation
• Zeit online: http://www.zeit.de/sport-newsticker/2011/1/1/262670xml
• Cross Country Canada: http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=6246&lan=0
• xc-ski.de: http://www.xc-ski.de/980-dopingverdacht-schatten-ueber-der-tour-de-ski.html
• xc-ski.de: http://www.xc-ski.de/796-weltcup-davos-sui-15km-f-herren.html

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