In addition to throwing and jumping disciplines, there are also the so-called running disciplines in athletics. In athletics, there are 13 running disciplines. These are divided into three blocks: sprint, middle-distance, and long-distance running. These are explained in more detail in the following article.
Sprint
Sprinting means overcoming a distance in the shortest possible time, i.e., at the fastest speed. There are 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay and 400m hurdles for men and women alike. There are also 110m hurdles for men and 100m for women.
A distinction is also made between short and long sprints (distances over 200m), with short-distance running looking back on a tradition as the oldest Olympic discipline. The body converts energy-rich phosphate reserves during sprinting. The risk of injury in sprinting is exceptionally high in the starting phase and at the end of the run.
The most common injuries affect the muscles on the back of the thighs (above all, the musculus biceps femoris) and muscle injuries on the front (e.g. the musculus rectus femoris). Likewise, sprinters often suffer from ruptured Achilles tendons. An accumulation of Hallux Rigidus is observed in sprinters as a possible long-term consequence – the cause is suspected to be the stress caused by the starting position.
Hurdle sprinters have an additional risk of injury to the sacroiliac joints, lower lumbar spine, and abdominal muscles. In addition, shortened adductors represent a risk factor.
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middle distance running
The middle distance is between 800m and 1609m (corresponding to one English mile). The Olympic disciplines include the 800m and 1500m runs. The International Athletics Federation also records over 2000m, 4x800m relays, and 4x1500m relays (for men). Although middle distances are also run by both sexes today, women have only been admitted to this discipline in international competitions since the 1960s. After the first 800m run for women at the 1928 Olympics, it was initially assumed that the physical strain on women was too great, as the participating women appeared too exhausted.
Middle-distance running is a low-injury athletics discipline. The risk of acute injuries is low; the leg tendons are more likely to be overloaded, especially the Achilles tendon. Overloading and stress can also cause fractures. The metatarsal and shin bones, as is the femoral neck, are particularly at risk here.
long-distance running
All distances over the English mile are summarized under the term long-distance running. The most critical disciplines include the 5000m and 10000m run, the 3000m steeplechase and the marathon. Other track and road races, cross-country or hour runs are also popular long-distance disciplines. The longest track and field discipline at the Olympics is the marathon, covering a distance of 42.195 km.
The risk of injury in long-distance running is the same as in middle-distance running, but meniscus damage is a typical problem in long-distance runners. Acute meniscus damage is less common than chronic inflammation that results from wear and tear and overuse.
The iliotibial band syndrome, known as the runner’s knee, causes problems for long-distance runners with bowlegs, particularly as the tendon strand between the iliac crest and the shin bone rubs easily and can cause severe pain. Another classic problem area for long-distance runners is the cruciate ligament.
