The word 'race' is a noun, a word for a thing.
The noun 'race' is functioning as the object of the preposition 'during'.
Yes. A noun could be a person, place, or object. In that case, race could be described as a place or object.
The Sky Runners are not currently in competition today. They usually have their marathons on either Saturday or Sunday mornings. They will be in operation through the fall.
Surprisingly meat, companions, and protectors of livestock
Yes, you should put a comma after "today" in the phrase "as of today" to indicate that the phrase is specifying the present moment.
it is a phrase
Lick my nuts
Adverb phrase
About twice as fast as today's fastest human runners.
full moon
Just purchased a set today at America's Tire. Surprisingly, they are made in U.S.A.
No, though they are somewhat related. Surprisingly, the only animals around today that can be considered dinosaurs are birds.
today is yesterdays tomorrow, and today is tomorrows yesterday