In sport, racing is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion,
usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to
complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves
traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach
a specific goal. A race may be run continuously from
start to finish or may be made of several segments called heats, stages or
legs. A heat is usually run over the same course at different times. A stage
is a shorter section of a much longer course or a time trial.
Early records of races are evident on pottery from ancient Greece, which
depicted running men vying for first place. A chariot race is described in
Homer's Iliad. Forms of racing
Running a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races may be
conducted in vehicles, such as boats, cars, cycles and aircraft; or with
animals such as horses or dogs. Other forms of racing are by skis, kicksled,
skates or wheelchair. In a relay race members of a team take turns in racing
parts of a circuit or performing a certain racing form.
A race can also involve any other type of goal like eating. A common race
involving eating is a hot dog eating race, where contestants try to eat more
hot dogs than the other racers. Racing can also be done in more
humoristic and entertaining ways such as the Sausage Race and the Red Bull
Trolley Grand Prix. Racing can be entertained from around the world.
Etymology The word race comes from a Norse word.
This Norse word arrived in France during the invading of Normandy and gave the
word raz which means "swift water" in Brittany, as in a mill race; it can be
found in "Pointe du Raz", and "raz-de-marée". The word race to mean a
"contest of speed" was first recorded in the 1510s.
A race and its name are often associated with the place of origin, the means of
transport and the distance of the race. As a couple of examples, see the Dakar
Rally or the Athens Marathon. Sprint finishes
A sprint finish is a racing tactic where a competitor accelerates towards top
speed in the final stages of a race. This tactic is mostly associated with
long-distance forms of running and cycling, which often feature large
groups of competitors racing at a slower pace for much of the race – this slower
aerobic racing allows for the subsequent anaerobic activity required for
sprinting. The tactic relies upon keeping greater energy reserves than
your opponent until the last part of the race in order to be able to reach the
finish point first. It is the opposing tactic to keeping a steady optimal pace
throughout a race to maximise your energy efficiency.
In track and field, distances from 1500 metres upwards often feature sprint
finishes. They can also be found in cross country and road running events,
even up to the marathon distance. A runner's ability to sprint at the end of
a race is also known as their finishing kick. Multisport races, such as the
triathlon, often have running as the final section and sprint finish tactics
are applied as they are in running-only events.
In cycling, sprint finishes are an integral part of the sport and are used
in both track cyclings and road cycling. Cycling sprints are often highly
tactical, with cyclists occasionally coming to a near halt at points before
reaching a high speed finish. The longer track races such as, scratch races,
often feature sprint finishes as maintaining a steady pace within the
peloton allows opponents to conserve energy through drafting. Road races are
similar in this respect, in both short criterium races and long-distance races.
Sprint tactics also form a major part of points classifications in road events,
where cycling sprinters specialise in reaching an intermediate point first,
thus gaining extra points and resulting prizes.
Sprint finish tactics are also used in speedskating, cross-country skiing,
long-distance swimming, horse racing and other animal racing sports. The finishes
of races which are outright sprinting events in themselves, such as the 100
metres track race, are not normally referred to as sprint finishes, as all
competitors are already sprinting by default.
See also Pace race
Sport Gambling
Totalisator Pacemaker
Nuclear arms race Space Race
Racing game References
External links Racing teams