run a race

Meaning

To participate in a running competition where people try to see who is the fastest. This can range from a short school sprint to a long marathon. The tone is active, healthy, and encouraging.

Examples

• My sister is training hard because she wants to run a race next month.

  My sister is training hard because she wants to run a race next month.

• He was very tired after he ran a race in the hot sun.

  He was very tired after he ran a race in the hot sun.

• Are you planning to run a race this weekend, or are you just watching?

  Are you planning to run a race this weekend, or are you just watching?

• Children love to run a race on the school playground during lunch.

  Children love to run a race on the school playground during lunch.

• To run a race successfully, you need to pace yourself and drink water.

  To run a race successfully, you need to pace yourself and drink water.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to make a race this Saturday.

  ✓ I want to run a race this Saturday.

  We use the verb 'run' with 'race', not 'make' or 'do'.

• ✗ She ran a career yesterday and won first place.

  ✓ She ran a race yesterday and won first place.

  In some languages, a word similar to 'career' means a running event. In English, 'career' refers to your professional job history. Use 'race' for physical competitions.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He bought new sneakers because he is going to ___ on Sunday.

  💡 Compete in a running event.

  Show answer

  run a race

• It takes a lot of practice to ___ and finish in under twenty minutes.

  💡 Participate in a speed competition.

  Show answer

  run a race