footracing over a variety of distances and courses and numbering among the most popular sports in nearly all times and places. Modern competitive running ranges from sprints (dashes), with their emphasis on continuous high speed, to grueling long-distance and marathon races, requiring great endurance. See also athletics; cross-country; hurdling; long-distance running; marathon; middle-distance running; relay race; sprint; steeplechase. For walk racing, see walking.

Running is also a popular noncompetitive recreation that can produce important physiological benefits. See jogging.