A running event is a type of athletic competition in which participants compete in a race over a certain distance. The most common running events are sprints, middle-distance races, long-distance races, and relay races. The term 'running event' can also refer to a track and field MEET, which is a series of running events held over the course of one or more days. The term 'MEET' is derived from the four-letter word 'MEET, ' which is often used to describe a running event.