Before proceeding to know the meaning of the term post-race, we must discover the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
-Carrera comes from Latin. Specifically, it emanates from “carraira” and this from “carrus”, which can be translated as “car”.
-Posta, on the other hand, also derives from Latin, exactly from the vulgar word “postum”.
According to DigoPaul, the concept of a race can refer to the competitions in which each participant tries to reach the finish line before the rest. The objective is to travel the established route in the least amount of time possible: that is, at the highest speed.
Calls racing post, Relay races or relay races are done by teams. The members of each group must pass an element known as testimony or witness among themselves: otherwise they cannot continue the race.
A 400-meter relay race, for example, may involve teams of four. Each athlete must travel a distance of 100 meters, where a teammate awaits him, to whom he must deliver the baton. Once the baton is received, this second runner can start his race and complete his 100 meters. Thus, Athlete 1 runs 100 meters carrying the baton and gives it to Athlete 2, who runs another 100 meters and hands the baton to Athlete 3. After another 100 meters, athlete 3 passes the baton to athlete 4, who is responsible for crossing the finish line. The team that completes the post race first is the winner.
When it comes to relay races in athletics, you have to know that there are very specific rules in this regard. Specifically, there are various rules that must be followed because if you do not proceed to be disqualified: you cannot give a false start, you must not drop the baton, you cannot avoid passing another runner, you cannot hinder voluntarily passing to another rival…
The world record in 4 x 100 meter relays is held in the men’s category and was achieved by the Jamaican team on August 11, 2012 in the city of London. 36.84 seconds was what it took to complete that post race for the team made up of athletes Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt.
Notably, beyond athletics, post racing is also popular in cross-country skiing and swimming. In all disciplines the operation of the competition is similar: each participant runs a course and then enables a teammate to do the same.
As far as swimming is concerned, we can establish that, at present, there are several Olympic categories of post races. We are referring, above all, to the 4 x 100 meter freestyle, 4 x 200 meter freestyle and 4 x 100 meter styles. Trials in which four swimmers are forced to proceed to swim the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and crawl.
