Walking through the streets of Toronto, one is bound to see people in athletic gear running through the streets. From Varsity Blues athletes training to Torontonians running recreationally, runners have become a common part of the city and campus.
Running may appear to be a simple past time, but it’s more than that. There are different types of runners with different routines and practices. Sprinting, cross-country running, and marathon running may seem very similar, but what sets them apart from each other?
Many are familiar with 100-metre races in the Olympics featuring the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. Sprinters, some of the world’s fastest athletes, run distances ranging from 60 metres to 400 metres with both speed and power.
Gregory MacNeill, one of the Varsity Blues Track and Field captains explained that, “In sprinting, you use your full energy, going full tilt over a short period of time.”
Aside from the use of energy to move in fast bursts, there is also a technical aspect to sprinting. As MacNeill explained, “every little motion is broken down to a precise movement in order to maximize your effort over the short distance.”
When the component of speed is added to the activity, you get something more than just running fast.
Cross-country, on the other hand, is less publicized in the sports world, but still takes a lot of skill to compete competitively. Zain Ahmed, a cross-country runner with the Varsity Blues, explains that cross-country is very unique.
“Cross-country is a crazy footrace over a variety of terrain(s), and often against the elements,” said Ahmed. Unlike the consistent surface that sprinters run on, cross-country athletes have different routes and courses to constantly adapt to.
“We typically race on grass, but sometimes there is gravel, dirt, and sand. There are hills of various dimensions. We (also) often have to deal with wind, rain, and even hail or snow,” Ahmed added.
These athletes face many different obstacles as they run, but what keeps them going when it gets rough?
Gabriela Stafford, another member of our Varsity Blues cross-country team, emphasized that the major difference between sprints and cross-country is the team influence. “The team aspect is an integral part to cross country. Whenever you have moments of doubts in a (long) race, what gets you through it is thinking about toughing it out and digging deep for the team,” explained Stafford.
Marathons are by far the longest out of the three events forms of running. The official length of a marathon is 42.195 kilometres, a course that tests one’s endurance and ability to pace themselves throughout the race.
Ahmed commented on the taxing effects that marathons have on a runner: “In the marathon, the distance is so long that even running the marathon at a slow pace is tiring for anyone. Add a fast pace to the marathon and of course the event becomes brutal,” he explained.
Marathon runners must train to find their ideal speed so that they can efficiently run a constant speed throughout the long event. So when observing a marathon runner during training, they may not look like they are going very fast, but it is not the speed they are working on, but rather, their pace.
Next time you see a runner on the streets of Toronto, try to guess which event they are training for. Are they training for the speed and power needed in sprints? Are they trying to adapt to the different terrains found in cross-country races? Or are they pacing themselves to find a constant running speed? Whatever the answer, these sport events have distinct challenges with which the athletes are faced.
One should never underestimate the challenges that come with these sports. Despite falling under the broad category of “running,” sprints, cross-country, and marathons are more than they seem.
