Road running is one of the most popular and accessible sports in the world. It is the sport of running on paved or hard packed surfaces, typically roads or designated pedestrian and cycle paths. Competitions cater to all ages and abilities, though longer distances are not recommended for young children due to the dangers of running alone and the potential dangers created by other road users.
Common race distances are 5K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon (21.1K), and Marathon (42.2K), but any distance can be run. Ultra running refers to distances beyond a marathon.