Road & Hill Running Information Centers
America's road running information is available at the USATF website. The website offers running information with regard to dates of events and running routes. The running information offers runners to choose the routes and allows narrowing of search to a specific type of terrain. Runners can map out their route, share their experiences and save the information for the benefit of other runners.
Road Running Information
Road running offers a wide range of challenges and experiences such as difficult terrains, steep climbs and descents, changes in weather and participation of a large group of runners. Most races are held in cities and distances vary from 3.1 miles to 26.2 miles. These are standard long distance road running information. There are other non-standard distances which are certified after measuring and remeasuring. Races covering distances beyond marathon distances are called ultrarunning or ultramarathon. These distances can be measured in distances or in time for example, who has run the farthest in 24 hours. The unique feature of road running is that amateurs can also participate. Road running races are also used as a medium of spreading awareness of a social issue, like hunger, drugs, aids, etc.
Hill Running Information
Historically hill running originated in the highlands of Scotland where it is still popular during town fairs and local sport days. The modern hill running race is run along a predetermined route through checkpoints where timings are recorded. Hill running is a strenuous promotes strength endurance. There are short hills, medium hills. long hills and mixed hill running.
Hill running in the UK is organized by the Fell Runners Association, which organizes 400 to 500 events per year. Scottish Hill Runners organization has an annual calendar. Welsh Fell Runners Association provides information on events in Wales. Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association organizes races in Northern Ireland. The Irish Mountain Running Association has a full calendar for the year organizes races every Wednesday evenings in and around Dublin. To participate in these events no previous experience is required. However, fitness is of importance as any injury or exhaustion on the route may take time for help to come.
The Irish Mountain Running Association organizes a 100K race covering 27 peaks in Wicklow. The three prizes are Gold - complete race in 12 hours, Silver - 15 hours and Bronze - 24 hours. It is said that Gold is impossible to win and beyond human achievement. The running information details of this grand race is available on their website.
