Running is one of the oldest sports in human history. In fact, footraces were among the events at the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE. Since then, there have been countless people-powered racing competitions, and this entry in the high-low At the Starting Line series (2 titles) spotlights a variety of them. Short, thematic chapters feature colorful photos of diverse athletes in action, glossary words defined on the page, and accessible, upbeat paragraphs. The text loosely groups sports into categories, such as swimming, cycling, and races on courses or tracks (e.g., orienteering and skiing), beginning each section with familiar versions of the sport and progressing to more unusual variations. For instance, who knew athletes can speed climb the Empire State Building or sand-ski in Namibia? An attractive, attention-catching series.
— Angela Leeper
Booklist, October 2023
