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Pan American Sports Games, Rio de Janeiro, 2007
The miles-long history of the marathon
Infographic about the ancient Olympic Games featuring stylized illustrations of athletes competing in discus, long jump, javelin, equestrian events, running events, boxing, wrestling, and pankration. Each sport is labeled with a brief description, and a central text box explains the origins and evolution of the Games in Olympia, Greece.
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Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after breaking the world record with a time of 19.30 to win the gold medal as Churandy Martina (left) of Netherlands Antilles and Brian Dzingai of Zimbabwe come in after him in the Men's 200m Final at the National Stadium during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Summer Olympics, track and field, athletics)
I Am the Greatest (Athlete)
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Key People:
Laurence E. Myers
Jim Ryun
Notable Honorees:
Lee Evans
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Pan American Sports Games, Rio de Janeiro, 2007
Pan American Sports Games, Rio de Janeiro, 2007 Frank Caldeira finishing first in the marathon at the Pan American Sports Games, Rio de Janeiro, 2007.

running

athletics
Also known as: track athletics, track event
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The miles-long history of the marathon
The miles-long history of the marathonThe marathon is said to commemorate the feat of a Greek soldier in 490 bce.
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running, footracing over a variety of distances and courses and numbering among the most popular sports in nearly all times and places. Modern competitive running ranges from sprints (dashes), with their emphasis on continuous high speed, to grueling long-distance and marathon races, requiring great endurance. See also athletics; cross-country; hurdling; long-distance running; marathon; middle-distance running; relay race; sprint; steeplechase. For walk racing, see walking.

Running is also a popular noncompetitive recreation that can produce important physiological benefits. See jogging.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Meg Matthias.
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