How to run as fast as possible over time?

Echo + arcane echo, Dash

As far as I know, the fastest average speed a player could run at (excluding Junundu skills) is by using Burning Speed at 20 or more Fire Magic. Just using Burning Speed and re-uping it right as it wears out means you're moving for 4 seconds at 1.5x (or +50%) spending the last second casting Burning Speed and suffering from after-cast delay (0.25s + 0.75s). This yields an average speed of 1.4x (+40%); its a weighted average: 1.5*4/5 + 1*1/5 = 1.4

If you're just using Dash (15.x or +50%) plus other 1.33x (+33%) run stances/shouts and you're able to use the 1.33x run skills during the down time of Dash, then you're average speed is 1.39375; its a weighted average: 1.5*3/8 + 1.33*5/8 = 1.39375

To achieve 20+ Fire Magic, you could be using a +1 Fire Magic 20% weapon, superior rune, cons, etc. The problem with Burning Speed is that you're going to be on fire (7 health degen), so you're going to have to provide skills (preferably shouts) that would help heal. Running with 500 health and no heal skills means you're still going to be able to run for ~36seconds before dying.

If we aiming only for speed I suggest Dwarven Stability + Echo + Dash. That's how I do chestrun on areas where I don't need to watch out spells.

Since you are mesmer secondary/pimary cause of Echo, it's great idea to max out Illusion Magic (if you don't investment attributes on something else) because Illusion of Weakness can be a great lifesaver.

I'm an avid chest runner, i have a lot of blue rock and red RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO candles in my inventory, so i use one of them for a speed increase of 25% for 20 - 30 mins, then i use dwarven Stability and Dash for the 50% every few seconds. works well with the fallback and incoming para heroes too for the 33%, now i know it doesn't stack and the maximum is 50%
But if you ever get crippled etc then the extra speed boost comes into play and you still move quick enough to get out of bad situations =D

if party, then fallback is great if you dont want to sacrifice the elite

if your entire party is enchanted, godspeed is a better option

Wow, i didn't realize all these answers =D Thanks a lot all of you!

The main problem with running is that you can't just rely on running skills .. at least that's my experience! Aggroing enemies is next to impossible to avoid some places. They will follow you for a bit, then maybe you aggro another group. Running skills alone won't save you then.

Is it normal to view each place you want to run, and bring skills that counter the enemies\skills that are there?

I've tried this setup:

[dwarven stability][escape][dodge][zojun's haste][great dwarf armor][troll unguent][antidote signet][ebon vanguard assassin]

I know i should be more specific about places to run.

Essence of celerity + dwarven stability + dash

0.2sec recast every 36secs at constant +50% = average 1.4917x speed boost

D/A: Avatar of Balthazar + Dwarven Stability + Dash + Shadow Steps

2 seconds of +33% IMS with 6 seconds of +50% IMS for 90 seconds is the fastest i can think of without cons. +40AR helps too

Red Rock + Blue rock + Green rock (optional)
1.5x speed boost no casting delays lasts as long as you have rocks

W/x build:

I use "I am the strongest" Norn shout with "Soldier's Speed". With around 9 points in Tactics, you can run at +30% indefinitely. The norn shout stays until you use it, so if you're just running it lasts until you rezone.

Be a Dervish and max Mysticism and Wind Prayers.
Then spam Whirling Charge on recharge.