What Is the Distance Around a Running Track for Each Lane?

Today running tracks vary in length from less than 100 yards to greater than 400 meters. Over the course of time mankind has chosen to run because it is fun, to deliver something or to obtain a health benefit. Sometimes it is convenient to run on a track but how far is that lap around the track? In 1913 the International Amateur Athletic Federation was formed by representatives from 16 countries and has established standards for sporting events including the distance around a running track.

Running track. (Image: Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images)

Ancient and Modern Running Events

At the earliest recorded Olympics competitors ran races including a one-stade sprint, a two-stade race, and a long-distance run which ranged from seven to 24 stades. A stade was one length of the stadium in Olympia. Running for sport faded from public interest for many years but was reintroduced to the public in 1866 with the first English championships. About 30 years later, in 1896, the first modern Olympic games were held outside Greece where competitors ran races of 100 meters and up.

Types of Running Tracks

Running tracks can be located indoor or outdoor and the surfaces can be made of compacted dirt or synthetic substances. The compacted dirt track is the least expensive but the most dangerous since when the surface becomes wet pockets of mud form and the running surface becomes slippery. There are several types of synthetic track surfaces which provide a running surface of exceptional durability, uniformity and safety. Synthetic tracks are always safe though more susceptible to damage from improper use. It is common that users of synthetic tracks are asked to run only on the outside lanes.

Modern Track Designs

Running tracks built today are designed to be in compliance with guidelines established by the IAAF. In those guidelines the measuring line, which is 20 to 30 centimeters from the inside of the track, measures 400 meters. There are several variations on how curves and straightaways are arranged with some designs having two equal curves and two equal straightaways that are 84.4 meters in length while other designs have straightaways up to 100 meters in length.

The Distances Around Each Lane

Since the distance around the track in lane one, the inside lane, is 400 meters the distance around the track for the other lanes can be calculated by knowing the lane width and a few other measurements. The formula, L = 2S + 2pi(R + (n-1)w) can be used to calculate the distances around the track for the various lanes. In this formula L equals the lane distance, S equals the length of the straightaway, R is the radius of the turn, n is the lane number and w is the width of the lane.

Since the IAAF has standardized track lane widths at 1.22 meters the above formula calculates the distance around the track in lane 2 as 407.67 meters, lane 3 as 415.33 meters, lane 4 as 423 meters, lane 5 as 430.66 meters, lane 6 as 433.38 meters, lane 7 as 446 meters and lane 8 as 453.66 meters.

Significance

Since it is common practice that amateur runners are allowed to run in lanes four through eight it can be seen that they are running a greater distance than 400 meters per lap. Four times around the track in lane four is almost 1700 meters, 100 meters more than the distance in lane one. While a runner utilizing lane eight for four laps will run almost 1815 meters or 215 meters further than they would if they ran in lane one.