On a standard 6-lane 400m track, how much extra distance is it per lap in each lane (1.e. one lap in lane 1=400, lane 2=4xx,...lane 6=4xx)
On a standard 6-lane 400m track, how much extra distance is it per lap in each lane (1.e. one lap in lane 1=400, lane 2=4xx,...lane 6=4xx)
use the search function
One good resource for this is at the following URL:
http://www.philsport.com/narf/atrack.htm
I did calculations for the track at Angell Field at
Stanford University. I measured the track width to be
1.22 Meters (It might be 48 Inches which is very
very close to the same - 1.2192 Meters). This is
a 9 lane 400 Meter Track with a Curb and the results
I got are:
Lane 1 400.000 m
Lane 2 407.037 m
Lane 3 414.703 m
Lane 4 422.368 m
Lane 5 430.034 m
Lane 6 437.699 m
Lane 7 445.365 m
Lane 8 453.030 m
Lane 9 460.696 m
The length of lane 1 (400.000 m) is defined as
length out 0.30 meters from the curb.
The length for all other lanes is calculated at 0.20
meters out from the edge of the white line on the
runner's left closest to her/him (Assuming the runner
is going counterclockwise which is normal). Lane 1 is
therefore treated special as mentioned above because it
has been assumed that a runner would not run as close
to a curb as she/he would to a non-curbed line which
she/he faces in all other lanes except lane 1.
There are people who know the designing/making of tracks
way better than I do who may wish to comment.
Search function is a good bet; maybe Google, too. Bear in mind that different tracks have different lane widths, which means the extra distance in a given lane will vary from track to track.
Two quick guides:
1. If you're *at* a particular track that you're asking about, just look at the distance between the common finish line and the (staggered) starting line for the 400m. That's the extra distance per lap, assuming you run right next to the lane line.
2. Using pi, you can approximate the extra distance involved by measuring the distance (in *feet*) out from the curb. Then double that number (in *meters*) to get a rough idea of the extra distance (within a meter or two). NOTE that the track's 400 distance is not measured along the curb, but (I believe?--somebody check me on this) one foot out from the curb, so you could probably get a more accurate estimate of the extra distance by measuring out from the curb, subtracting a foot from that, then doubling (and switching from feet to meters). Example: if you're running six feet out from the curb, subtract a foot from that (now we're talking five feet); double the number, and switch to meters (~10 extra meters per lap).