In the middle of looking for a bib to hang on your jersey this weekend? Are you a little lost in the face of all the labels on the posters? Afraid your buddy’s going to put you through a hell of a test? Come on, let’s go over the different types of races we can meet.
Track and Road
- Sprint
Now I think it’s everybody’s fault. To make it simple, all you have to do is stew over a short distance. For example, at the Olympic Games, we will have the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, all on track.
- The half-bottom races
After the sprint and before the bottom, we have the half-bottom. It groups race from a distance of 800 to 3000m.
- Background races
And so if you’ve been following it all right, we get into the bottom sports when the distance exceeds 3,000 meters.
There are most of the road races for which we will take a race number: 5km, 10km, half marathon (21,097 km) and marathon (42,195 km). When the distance exceeds that of the marathon, then we speak of the deep or ultra-fond.
Instead of an established distance, we can find tests of duration where we have to collect as many stations as possible, for example, over 24 hours.
- Cross-country
Also known only as “cross” runs on natural terrain with equally natural obstacles, like a great big mud puddle.
We stay in a rather short format with 4 to 12km for a rather intense race with people who are not afraid to get dirty. From a calendar point of view, they will instead be organized during the winter period.
- Trail
Ideal for those looking for beautiful landscapes, the trail runs in the middle of nature: mountain, forest. In addition to the distance you have to take into account the altitude of the course, there it can climb very hard. Here, walking at certain times is entirely reasonable to manage his effort best.
Less than 21km is more like a nature race and more than 80km of ultra-trail.
A time limit is often given to finish the race. Also, times of passage are indicated at various points. These are the time barriers. A runner who does not respect them will be put out of the race. For longer distances, it may take several days to cross the finish line.
- Obstacle Course
OCR, Mud Run, Mud Race are other names that serve to identify these races whose courses are most often installed on the road but also in the city or the mountains. You will usually have to run 5 to 13km over a wide variety of artificial and natural obstacles. Crawling, climbing, swimming, wearing involve stamina, strength, and agility. These are the qualities required to meet the challenge.
Although some go there to break the clock, most take the start for fun. Everyone leaves their brains with their bag at the locker, and it’s off to a big muddy moment of delirium with friends. These races remain accessible to all, and the mutual aid will allow everyone to cross the finish line. Costumes are often required, and the atmosphere is festive so that they can join the fun run clan.
However, it is still a discipline in its own right, and it is developing these days very quickly with its championships. Races with high mileage are also organized so that you can rinse thoroughly in every sense of the word.
- Triathlon
Swimming, cycling, and running are the programs of a triathlon where you will have to follow these three disciplines. Different shopping formats are available, with distances indicated as clothing sizes. Example: Distance L, 3000m of swimming, 80km of cycling, and 20km of running.
Are you not comfortable in one of the three triathlon disciplines? So here are some other combined test solutions:
- Duathlon: cycling + running
Aqualon: swimming pool + running (on track))
Swim Run: swimming in open water + running
- Orienteering
You take your compass, we give you a map, and you start looking for markers to find in a given order. The evolution will most often take place in the forest, and each tag found will need to either punch a card or punch electronically using a chip to justify its passage.
- Run-Archery
Running with his bow in hand and aiming just, the Run-Archery follows the principles of Biathlon. The course is quite short, 400 to 1500m. Several laps are on the program with each time a stop at the launch pad. Each missed arrow is equivalent to one penalty round. Speed and precision are the watchwords of this discipline, which offers a show full of twists and turns.
- Multi-sport Raid
A team starts for a race combining several practices. For example, trail riding, mountain biking, and canoeing can be combined. It takes place in the middle of nature and can last several days. A beautiful adventure that you should not be afraid of the distance announced.
- Run & Bike
I think the name already explains what it is. Binomial race, one on foot, the other on the bike (mountain bike) and the possibility to exchange roles at any time. In competition, we will not talk about distance but about time with lengths from 45 minutes to more than 2 hours.