View source for Racing

{{Short description|Speed competition}}{{Other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2010}}
{{Multiple image | direction= vertical | width = 250px
| image1 = US Navy 100519-N-7367K-001 A Sailor and a Soldier based in southern Mississippi sprint to the finish line during the Run for Relief 5K Challenge.jpg
| caption1 = Two men engaging in a sprint finish at the end of a 5-kilometre road [[running]] competition
| image2 = Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics 9240 Mens lightweight coxless four - Heat 2 - GBR CZE.jpg
| caption2 = The [[Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's lightweight coxless four|Men's lightweight coxless four]] rowing race at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in [[London]]
| image3 = 2018 Austrian Grand Prix turn 1 (43147259711).jpg
| caption3 = The start of the [[2018 Austrian Grand Prix]] auto race
| image4 = Nicole Cooke and Oenone Wood 2007 Geelong World Cup sprint 1.jpg
| caption4 = Two women in a tight sprint finish at the end of the [[Australia World Cup]] cycling race
| image5 = Horse race, Arlington International.jpg
| caption5 = Horse racing at [[Arlington Park]]
| image6 = Дёминский Лыжный Марафон 2015.jpg
| caption6 = [[Cross-country skiing (sport)|Cross-country skiers]] racing at the [[Demino Ski Marathon]], March 2015
| image7 = Saguenay 500m.jpg
| caption7 = [[Short track speed skating|Short-track speed skaters]] racing through a curve
| image8 = Depart4x100.jpg
| caption8 = Start of the 4 × 100 meters relay swimming race during the [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]
}}

In [[sport|sports]], '''racing''' is a [[competition]] of [[speed]], in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of [[time]]. Typically this involves [[:wikt:traverse|traversing]] some [[distance]], but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goal.

A race may be run continuously to finish or may be made up of several segments called heats, [[Race stage|stage]]s 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 [[Individual time trial|time trial]].

Early records of races are evident on [[pottery]] from [[ancient Greece]], which depicted running men vying for first place. A [[chariot racing|chariot race]] is described in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]''.

==Etymology==
The word ''race'' comes from a [[Old Norse|Norse]] word.<ref>{{cite dictionary|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race|dictionary=Online Etymology Dictionary|access-date=28 June 2010|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815102531/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]]" (the most western point of France, in Brittany), and "''raz-de-marée''" ([[tsunami]]). The word race to mean a "contest of speed" was first recorded in the 1510s.<ref>{{cite dictionary|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race&allowed_in_frame=0|title=Race|dictionary=Online Etymology Dictionary|access-date=July 13, 2012|archive-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717085519/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race&allowed_in_frame=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

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]].

==Forms==
{{Further|List of forms of racing}}
[[Running]] a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races may also be done by [[Speed climbing|climbing]], [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[Racewalking|walking]], or other types of [[Terrestrial locomotion|human locomotion]]. Races may be [[Animals in sport#Racing|conducted with animals]] such as [[Camel racing|camels]], [[Dog racing|dogs]], [[Horse racing|horses]], [[Pigeon racing|pigeons]], [[Pig racing|pigs]], [[Snail racing|snails]], or [[Turtle racing|turtles]]. They also may be done in vehicles such as [[Air racing|aircraft]], [[Bicycle racing|bicycles]], [[Boat racing|boats]], [[Auto racing|car]]s, or [[Motorcycle racing|motorcycles]]; or with another means of transport such as [[Speed skating|skates]], [[Slalom skateboarding|skateboards]], [[Skiing|skis]], [[Sledding|sleds]], [[Snowboarding|snowboards]], or [[Wheelchair racing|wheelchair]]. In a [[relay race]] members of a [[team]] take turns in racing parts of a circuit or performing a certain racing form.

[[Orienteering|Orienteering races]] add an additional task of using a map and [[compass]] to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain.

A race can also involve any other type of goal like [[eating]]. A common [[Competitive eating|speed eating]] challenge is a [[hot dog]] eating race, where contestants try to eat more hot dogs than the other racers.

[[Race game|Racing board games]] and [[racing video game]]s are also competitions of speed.

Racing can also be done in more humoristic and entertaining ways such as the [[Sausage Race]], the [[Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix]] and [[wok racing]]. Racing can be entertained from around the world.

== Sprint finishes ==
A sprint finish is a racing tactic used in many forms of racing 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 (sport)|cycling]], which often feature large groups of competitors racing at a slower pace for much of the race – this slower [[Aerobic exercise|aerobic]] racing allows for the subsequent [[Anaerobic exercise|anaerobic]] activity required for sprinting.<ref>Ronald J Maughan, & Michael Gleeson (20 May 2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xT6cAQAAQBAJ&dq=%22anaerobic%22+%22sprint+finish%22&pg=PA129 "Energy Supply" <span id="atom_broken_id_2" class="atom_response">404</span>] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227155347/https://books.google.com/books?id=xT6cAQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA129&ots=OOMScgHaWA&dq=%22anaerobic%22%20%22sprint%20finish%22&pg=PA129#v=onepage&q=%22anaerobic%22%20%22sprint%20finish%22&f=false |date=2023-02-27 }}. ''The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance'' (pg. 129). Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|9780199208289}}</ref> The tactic relies upon keeping greater [[Energy balance (biology)|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 (physics)|energy efficiency]] (see [[running economy]]).<ref>Stevenson, Roy. [http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/exclusive/developing_a_fast_finish.html#.U1AWms73Gt8 Developing a fast finish for your road races <span id="atom_broken_id_1" class="atom_response">404</span>] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419030621/http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/exclusive/developing_a_fast_finish.html#.U1AWms73Gt8 |date=2014-04-19 }}. Multi Briefs. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref>

In [[track and field]], distances from [[1500 metres]] upwards often feature sprint finishes. They can also be found in [[cross country running|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 (running)|kick]].<ref>Fitzgerald, Matt (2013-11-18). [http://running.competitor.com/2013/11/training/kick-your-way-to-better-race-times_31618 Kick Your Way To Better Race Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020221/http://running.competitor.com/2013/11/training/kick-your-way-to-better-race-times_31618 |date=2014-04-19 }}. Competitor. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref> [[Multisport race]]s, such as the [[triathlon]], often have [[running]] as the final section and sprint finish tactics are applied as they are in running-only events.<ref>Stevenson, Roy (2013-07-13). [http://www.triathlonmag.com.au/training/run/7136-developing-a-fast-finish Developing a fast finish <span id="atom_broken_id_3" class="atom_response">404</span>] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222193756/http://www.triathlonmag.com.au/training/run/7136-developing-a-fast-finish |date=2017-02-22 }}. ''Triathlon & Multisport Magazine''. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref>

In cycling, sprint finishes are an integral part of the sport and are used in both [[track cycling]] and [[road bicycle racing|road cycling]]. [[Sprint (cycling)|Cycling sprints]] are often highly tactical, particularly on the track, with cyclists occasionally coming to a near halt at points before reaching a high speed finish.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/get_involved/4261874.stm The individual sprint] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116102015/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/get_involved/4261874.stm |date=2006-11-16 }} . [[BBC Sport|BBC Sport <span id="atom_broken_id_4" class="atom_response">404</span>]]. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref> The longer track races such as [[scratch race]]s often feature sprint finishes, as maintaining a steady pace within the [[peloton]] allows opponents to conserve energy through [[drafting (aerodynamics)|drafting]].<ref>[http://www.cyclingcalendar.com/scratch-race.html Scratch Race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418234705/http://www.cyclingcalendar.com/scratch-race.html |date=2014-04-18 }}. Cycling Calendar. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref>{{clarify|date=December 2016}} [[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 classification]]s in road events, where [[cycling sprinter]]s specialise in reaching an intermediate point first, thus gaining extra points and resulting prizes.<ref>Gitz, Jarred (2014-04-05). [http://www.jarredscycling.com/2014/04/the-points-classification.html The Points Classification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013054/http://www.jarredscycling.com/2014/04/the-points-classification.html |date=2014-04-19 }} . Jareds Cycling. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref><ref name="BR">Smith, Mark (2008-05-01). [http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-sprint-finishing-1044/ Technique: Sprint finishing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012742/http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-sprint-finishing-1044/ |date=2014-04-19 }}. Bike Radar. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref>

Sprint finish tactics are also used in [[speedskating]], [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skiing]], [[long-distance swimming]],<ref>[http://mastersswimmingqld.org.au/Coaching/Open-Water-Swimming Open Water Swimming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013132/http://mastersswimmingqld.org.au/Coaching/Open-Water-Swimming |date=2014-04-19 }}. Masters Swimming. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref> [[horse racing]] and other [[animal racing]] sports.<ref>[http://www.onefasthorse.com/minella-best-in-sprint-finish/108643/ Minella best in sprint finish <span id="atom_broken_id_0" class="atom_response">503</span>] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020557/http://www.onefasthorse.com/minella-best-in-sprint-finish/108643/ |date=2014-04-19 }}. British Horse Racing Authority. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref><ref>James, Dave (2014-02-24). [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/olympics/2014/02/24/401360/p2/Matt-breaks.htm Matt breaks record as doping hits Sochi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419015226/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/olympics/2014/02/24/401360/p2/Matt-breaks.htm |date=2014-04-19 }}. China Post/Agence France Presse. Retrieved on 2014-04-17.</ref> 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 (thus it is not a racing tactic).

==See also==
* [[List of films about bicycles and cycling]]
* [[List of films about horse racing]]
* [[Sport]]
* [[Gambling]]
* [[Totalisator]]
* [[Pacemaker (track)|Pacemaker]]
* [[Nuclear arms race]]
* [[Space Race]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|racing}}{{Racing}}
{{Orienteering}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Racing| ]]
[[Category:Sports by type]]