athletics  long distance or road running

Long distance running to me is the king of sports. No other sport offers such a diverse a range of activity or such a wonderful history that can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks. Long distance running has always been a central part of the sport of athletics.

Road racing has become one of North America's most popular competitive sports. 1000's of people take part in road running events each year, from 5K, 8K, and 10K fun-runs to half-marathons, marathons, and Ultra's. And with every race, more people are discovering the joys and benefits of running.

Road running offers competitors a range of interests and challenges such as dealing with hills, sharp bends, varied surfaces, bad weather, and involvement in a large group of like minded people.

Running that covers a distance farther than a marathon is called ultrarunning; these events are called ultramarathons. They are either based on distance or time. IE: 50k or 6 hours. The Comrades Marathon run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa which is approximately 89 km (55.3 miles) is probably the most famous event.