Racing - Definition


Racing - Definition

$Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60mph$

Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60mph

A race is a competition of speed. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be just about any other task.

A race to cover a certain distance may be almost any length, and using any means stipulated by the rules of the race. Running a certain distance is the basic form of racing, but races are often conducted in vehicles, such as boats and cars; and on or with animals, such as horses.

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

Contents

1 List of types

1.1 Unassisted human racing
1.2 Bicycle racing, or cycling
1.3 Skiing
1.4 Animal racing
1.5 Motorized racing
1.6 Boat racing
1.7 Other types

2 Etymology

3 See also

List of types

Here is a some common and not so common forms of racing.

Unassisted human racing

Using only the human body's own muscles:

Bicycle racing, or cycling

Cycling with bicycles:

Track cycling, such as a Points race
Road cycling, such as the Tour de France
Offroad cycling or Mountain bicycling

Skiing

Skiing with skis, on snow:

Alpine skiing such as Slalom skiing or Downhill skiing
Cross-country skiing

Animal racing

Animals alone, or with human riders on the animal's back or in a conveyance:

Camel racing
Dog racing
- Greyhound racing
- Dogsled racing, such as the Iditarod
Horse-racing, see also United Kingdom horse-racing and Equestrianism
- Chariot racing
- Flat racing
- Thoroughbred horse races, such as Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or a Derby.
- Trotting
- Steeplechase
Pigeon racing
Pig racing

Etymology

The word race comes from a Viking word. This Viking word arrived in France during the invading of Normandy and gave the word raz which means "swift water" in Brittany; it can be found in "Pointe du Raz" (the most western point of France, in Brittany), and "raz-de-mar�e" (tsunami).

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 Paris-Dakar rally or the Athens marathon.