The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, also known as AIMS, is an association of the organisers of long-distance

road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain. These events are usually classified as long-distance ac ...

races. It was founded in 1982 at a meeting in London of

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

race directors. Its membership was extended in 1986 to include all road races. In June 2016, over 400 race organisations were members.

Objectives

According to its Articles of Association, AIMS's objectives are: # to foster and promote distance running throughout the world; # to work with the

World Athletics World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...

on all matters relating to international road races, and; # to exchange information, knowledge and expertise among the members of the Association.

Course measurement and world records

AIMS works together with World Athletics to ensure that its road races are measured accurately. All AIMS races must be measured by an accredited AIMS/IAAF course measurer. In addition, in order for a road race world record to be ratified by IAAF, it must satisfy certain conditions. Among these are that: * a course must not be, from start to finish, downhill by more than 1 metre in height per kilometre of length * the separation between start and finish must not be more than 50% of the length of the course The second condition is intended to ensure that a course is not designed in such a way that a tail wind may improve times unduly, but does not apply for the purpose of establishing Olympic and World Championship qualifying times. All races which have obtained

World Athletics Label Road Races World Athletics Label Road Races are races that the World Athletics (until 2019: ''IAAF'') designates as one of the "leading road races around the world." The classification was first introduced for the 2008 running season, upon the suggestion of ...

have been subject to AIMS/WA course measurement standards.

Other activities

The magazine “Distance Running” is published four times a year and distributed free to runners at events organised by AIMS members. Since 2013 the organisation has hosted a gala dinner each year at which the Best Marathon Runner award is given to honour the year’s most outstanding distance athletes. There is also a Green Award and a Social Award.

Notes

External links

AIMS website
{{Authority control Athletics organizations Marathon running Sports organizations established in 1982 1982 establishments in England

Objectives

Course measurement and world records

Other activities

See also

Notes

External links