LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING

in track and field (athletics), races ranging from 5,000 metres through 10,000, 20,000, 25,000, and 30,000 metres and up to the marathon (q.v.) at 26 miles, 385 yards, as well as cross-country races for men. Before the second half of the 20th century, races were run in English-speaking countries at the roughly equivalent distances of 3, 6, 10, and 15 miles. Like the middle-distance races, long-distance races are run at a strategic pace, but less seldom than in the former races is a final spurt needed by the winning racer. Women rarely ran in races beyond 3,000 metres until the second half of the 20th century, but they became more frequent competitors in the marathon from the 1970s on. The women's 5,000-metre race was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1996. Some middle-distance runners also succeeded as long-distance runners.