Running a mile on the track

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

After this discussion about your fastest mile, I am interested in timing myself. I was just wondering how the Olympics sets up the mile race? Is there even a mile race. I know the mile is 1609 meters, but where do the runs line-up and when do they cut into the inside lane? Does anybody know?

 

[DivideBYZero]

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[Gibsons]

I think they often run 1600 meters, which is about 9 meters short of a mile.

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
I think they often run 1600 meters, which is about 9 meters short of a mile.

Most races are either 1500 meters (metric mile) or 1600 meters. Runners treat the latter as 1 mile, but it isn't as you guessed. That's because 9 meters usually translates to 1-3 seconds only. There are true mile races out there that add on the needed extra distance. As in the 1500 meters, the start and finish lines are offset as needed.

One more note: The most famous current true mile race is the Golden Mile race at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

So when people run the 1600 or the 1500, how do they line up? When do they get to cut in, is it after like th first 100 meters or something?

Also the mile record right now, is that the mile record for a metric mile or the "real" mile?

 

[snoopdoug1]

Originally posted by: DeadSeaSquirrels
So when people run the 1600 or the 1500, how do they line up? When do they get to cut in, is it after like th first 100 meters or something?

Also the mile record right now, is that the mile record for a metric mile or the "real" mile?

They usually line up in a waterfall start, and they can cut in as soon as they want.

The real mile.

 

[dullard]

Well, if you are going to time yourself, just start in the inside lane, and run 4 laps. Don't worry about cutting in or anything. Typically, there are staggered lines marked on the track for where to start when you cut in (for all races >200m) for the starts in other lanes. For example, the first lane is right at the beginning of the turn, and the 8th lane is about halfway through the first turn.

After about 100 meters there is a line that crosses the entire track just after the first turn. Anyone can cut over at that point and get to the inside lane.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

can you define the waterfall start, as if we were watching it on TV?

 

[Koenigsegg]

Originally posted by: DeadSeaSquirrels
can you define the waterfall start, as if we were watching it on TV?

It means people line up on a curvy part of the track, each of them seperated by a certain distance. . . as opposed to say the 100m sprint where everyone is on the same line.

 

[jalaram]

Try this site.

It's quite long, but first handful of paragraphs should help explain things in general. Then, do a search on the page for the word waterfall to see the curved line they start at.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

Excellent, awesome thanks Jalaram.

 

[Cuda1447]

Wow, good info in this thread. I never knew a mile was actually 1609 meters. In all the races Ive ever run its just been 1600 meters.