1500

You have to think of the world beyond this country.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the origin of the 1500 comes from France way back when they raced 3 laps of 500 metres.

think out of this country? don't they all have 400 meter tracks now? 1600 meters is around 9 yards of a mile.

The story about the french and the 500 meter tracks is true. But what doesn't make sense to me is why the US runs the 1600 or mile and the 3200 or the 2 mile, the REST OF THE WORLD runs the 1500/3000, after kids leave high school they run the 1500/3000 and even before high school in club running they run the 1500/3000. I believe in Oregon and New York they run the 1500/3000, but why not the rest of the country, it makes no sense that US kids run the 1600/3200 for just the four years of high school.

Do we really HAVE to?

That's how the US gets in trouble.

foth wrote:

The story about the french and the 500 meter tracks is true. But what doesn't make sense to me is why the US runs the 1600 or mile and the 3200 or the 2 mile, the REST OF THE WORLD runs the 1500/3000, after kids leave high school they run the 1500/3000 and even before high school in club running they run the 1500/3000. I believe in Oregon and New York they run the 1500/3000, but why not the rest of the country, it makes no sense that US kids run the 1600/3200 for just the four years of high school.

I think everyone realizes that the REST OF THE WORLD runs the 1500/3000, however this is one of those cases where its pretty obvious that the US has it right (it happens on occasion)

we have 400 meter tracks...it just makes more sense to run 4 laps, not 4 laps and 9 yards, not 3 and 3/4 laps, 4 LAPS

seems a little easier wouldnt ya think

its not a big deal and the 1500 has too much history to ever be changed but u have to admit, the event that makes the most sense with the current tracks is the 1600

Please refraine from the "this is a classic example of American ignorance" because I know how things are in the rest of the world nd dont have a problem with it, its just a simple matter of math...for once the Americans are doing things right

are there still 500 metre tracks in europe? seems like everything is 400 so i agree with the last post.

The 1600 and 3200 are abomonations and should never be run again. High schooler: "Hey I just ran a 9:59 2 mile!"

Coach: "Nope sorry the race is only 99.4% of 2 miles, better run 9:56 next time."

well why does the mile and 2 mile have to be the ultimate standards, why not a 1600/3200

again, nothing will change but were everything to start over...1600/3200 would be the way to go (at least if there using 400 tracks)

all tracks should be reconfigured to 500 meters

No, the 1600/3200 will never be standards, they are just too close to whole number miles for people to ingore miles. When you get longer than 1 or 1.5 larger units like kilometers, it makes sense to use whole numbers like 3km or 5km and 10km. Just like 1,2,3,6 mile make sense. But 1.6k and 3.2k makes no more sense than 4.6 and 7.9 mile races. Just because a track is 400m doesn't mean everything has to be whole number laps. And yes the 1600/3200 are still abominations. When someone says, "My high school mile time is 4:xx." it sends shivers down my spine because they are off by at least 1.5 seconds. We Americans like to cut everything short.

should they should never run the mile either?

No the mile is a whole number unit: 1 Mile. Therefore it has some meaning: "I can run one of these (mile) faster than you." That's pure that's running. I can run 1.6 of these faster than you? No that's just silly.

bullsh*t argument. if the 1600 and 3200 are not to be used, why not use the 1000 instead of the 800 and the 500 instead of the 400?

It does seem dumb to run an uneven number of laps, though. Everyone should either run the 1600 and 3200, or track length should be changed.

it would make even MORE sense to run the 1500/5000...not the 3k unless you throw in the barriers. and i don't want to hear anyone on this thread tell me that 5k is too long for the high schoolers; that's just plain rubbish.

bdsambo wrote:

No, the 1600/3200 will never be standards, they are just too close to whole number miles for people to ingore miles. When you get longer than 1 or 1.5 larger units like kilometers, it makes sense to use whole numbers like 3km or 5km and 10km. Just like 1,2,3,6 mile make sense. But 1.6k and 3.2k makes no more sense than 4.6 and 7.9 mile races. Just because a track is 400m doesn't mean everything has to be whole number laps. And yes the 1600/3200 are still abominations. When someone says, "My high school mile time is 4:xx." it sends shivers down my spine because they are off by at least 1.5 seconds. We Americans like to cut everything short.

hey buddy, we run 100 meters further than the rest of the world so wat the hell r u talking about?

"cut it short"

I know its weird in the present day mindset but someone has to admit that if everything were to start over today with no bias and a 400 meter track the distance of choice would be the 1600

and everything does not have to be whole number distances, obviously it doesnt because most are not, but it simply makes more sense

-hey buddy, we run 100 meters further than the rest of the world so wat the hell r u talking about?

"cut it short"-

HUH?

bdsambo is right. Breaking the 4 minute mile was considered was the greatest athletic accomplishments of our time. It is the standard that has existed through the history of running. It is a pure distance, 4 laps, each at 60 secs. To accomplish this should be a pursuit of all milers. Remember when Alan Webb ran a 3:59.9 in a 4 X 1600 relay a reporter asked him how it felt to run a sub 4 mile, Webb responded "I still have 9.84 meters to go." That is one of the reasons he is where he is today. He understands what the standards of greatness are.