I just found out the local high school outdoor track is 378 meters...WTF?

I think services like Google earth have significant margins of error. So maybe you are actually in good shape. Only way to be sure is to measure the track by hand or with a wheel.

This is how Chinese world records happen.

Washed Upp wrote:

I figured out that to make it 400m, you have to run in the OUTSIDE of lane 4. Has anyone ever experienced anything this insane in your entire lives?

You mean other than the track at the University of Pennsylvania?

Anyway, if Killian's track is truly short (seems really unlikely, but who knows), now you know--and you can enjoy doing workouts on the gentler curves in lanes 4/5.

I love that your wife is keeping it real here..."yeah, you aren't that fast -- better measure the track."

anyway, good that you figured it out. don't worry though, the workouts have still helped you get into better shape.

jsj wrote:

I think services like Google earth have significant margins of error. So maybe you are actually in good shape. Only way to be sure is to measure the track by hand or with a wheel.

There is no doubt some margins of error when dealing with clunky measuring tools such as a GPS coordinates, but I've measured several other tracks just for kicks and it's pretty damn accurate. 399-401 meters usually does the trick for most tracks.

I measured the Miami track and came up with 378 meters. That track looks a bit screwed up regardless.

Just go to the track and see where the start lines are for certain race distances (i.e. 400m, 800m, 100m etc)

Whoever built that track completley screwed up on lanes one and two

Is there a curb? Maybe when one is installed it'll go in lane four and the track will resemble Franklin Field.

Whoever built that track completely fvcked up the whole track. WTF is up with the south end curve?

The Waterboy wrote:

Just go to the track and see where the start lines are for certain race distances (i.e. 400m, 800m, 100m etc)

Yeah, check this out. Maybe they made up for it by putting the starting lines really far back.

Yeah, just look at the track on google maps. The bottom right hand corner is all messed up.

Holy crap how could anyone screw up that hard. That track sucks I feel sorry for the school's runners.

Used the USAT&F map a route feature. I used the inside of lane two and made quite a few straight line arcs on the turns so e know this aint rocket science correct but lane two shows up as 380m +/- . even with errors lane two shoun be longer than 400 for a lap. While doing the arcs I realized the curves are made with numerious radii and are not symmetrical at all.

Suggest you call the HS and ask.

Yes Coronado High School's track a few years back I was training for the USATF XC Championships I was not in very good shape so after 3 weeks of training before and 1 week before the race I decided to see where I was at with a 5K time trial I comfotably jogged seriously jogged a 14:48 and was stocked so the race came 2008 USATF's and needless to say I thought top 30 was going to be a breeze well a 100 places later I finished. I told my coach it doesnt make any sense I did a 5K in 14:48 and it was really easy the moment I said I had been training at Coronado HS he brought me back to earth by saying ah thats the problem you have been training on a 350m track.

So yes I have been there...

Maybe that's the "local high school track" that Larry Rawson used to always suggest that we go down to.

SlowFatMaster wrote:

Maybe that's the "local high school track" that Larry Rawson used to always suggest that we go down to.

Larry is a lawyer he would never advise anyone to use an illegal track.

I had the same experience but rather on a 400 yard track. Who the hell creates a 400 yard track?

People who want to create the opportunity for a 4:30 miler to break 4.

Spirit of an Alaskan Salmon wrote:

Yeah, just look at the track on google maps. The bottom right hand corner is all messed up.

The whole south turn just looks like they screwed up. Also there's plenty of land to the south to add11 meters to the straights