If I run in lane 3 for a 1500m time trial will I run it slower than if I stayed in lane 1?

letsrun at its best. these morons can't understand how a track works. this is middle grade level of maths.

LaneRunning wrote:

thanks for asking wrote:

Running 1500 meters is running 1500 meters no matter if in lane one, lane eight, on Main Street in Hiawathia Kansas or on the beach in Bali 1500 meters remains constant.

On the track the number of laps or parts of a lap you need to run to cover 1500 meters changes

but if you run 1500 meter in lane three it is the same as running 1500 meter anywhere.

That doesn't make sense though. Wouldn't it be further? For example If I decided to run the 1500m in lane 8 and stayed in lane 8 for the whole 3laps 3/4 would I be running more than 1500m?

If you ran 3 3/4 laps in lane eight and timed that you were not recording the time for a 1500 meter time trial you were recording a time trial of running 3 3/4 laps in lane eight.

pay attention

There will be a quiz at the end of the class.

LaneRunning wrote:

thanks for asking wrote:

Running 1500 meters is running 1500 meters no matter if in lane one, lane eight, on Main Street in Hiawathia Kansas or on the beach in Bali 1500 meters remains constant. On the track the number of laps or parts of a lap you need to run to cover 1500 meters changes but if you run 1500 meter in lane three it is the same as running 1500 meter anywhere.

That doesn't make sense though. Wouldn't it be further? For example If I decided to run the 1500m in lane 8 and stayed in lane 8 for the whole 3laps 3/4 would I be running more than 1500m?

It would be considerably further than 1500m if you ran 3 3/4 laps in lane 8. Start a bit more than half way up the back straight and you'll run about 1500m.

LaneRunning wrote:

thanks for asking wrote:

Running 1500 meters is running 1500 meters no matter if in lane one, lane eight, on Main Street in Hiawathia Kansas or on the beach in Bali 1500 meters remains constant. On the track the number of laps or parts of a lap you need to run to cover 1500 meters changes but if you run 1500 meter in lane three it is the same as running 1500 meter anywhere.

That doesn't make sense though. Wouldn't it be further? For example If I decided to run the 1500m in lane 8 and stayed in lane 8 for the whole 3laps 3/4 would I be running more than 1500m?

If you start at the 1500 start line in lane 8 and run 3 3/4 laps in lane 8, you will have run about 1671 meters. A person who starts in lane 1 at the 1500 meter start line and runs 3 3/4 laps will run 1500 meters.

Lanerunning,

Don't listen to these sarcastic replies to your sincere question, one that often causes disputes amongst top athletes and coaches in championship races.

While it is true Lane 4 is slightly longer in distance than Lane 1, because you are not running as 'tight' around the curves of you were in lane 1 or 2, you actually run faster because your stride is not negatively affected by the sharp turn and you gain the benefits of propulsion not to mention the slight, but unnoticeable, banking of the track in the outer lanes.

Studies have shown you should run .07% faster for each 400m in lane 4, the fastest of the lanes.

There is, however, a diminishing return once you go out to the 7th and 8th lanes.

This is why at major championships you'll always see the fastest qualifiers in the middle lanes.

Hope this helps.

LaneRunning wrote:

So I just found out that the further you are from lane 1 the harder you have to work because you are covering a bit more distance. Is this true? And my second question is how much time difference or metres more would you be running if you were to run in lane 1 or lane 3 for the whole1500m? Hopefully this made sense.

If you start at the 1500m start line in lane 3 and run 3 3/4 laps (1500m in lane 1) and the lanes are a standard 1.22m wide, you will run 1555m if you stay in lane 3 the whole way.

thanks for asking wrote:

Running 1500 meters in lane three should yield a better time than running 1500 meters in lane one because the turns are gentler.

This is the correct answer. 1500m should be faster the farther out you are from lane 1.

However, if you start in lane 3 EVEN with someone starting ins lane 1, you will run farther than 1500m.

I rarely say this, but: End of Thread.

fisky wrote:

http://www.eracewalk.com/CalcTrac.htm

We can not end the thread without thanking fisky for unearthing this useful distance in lane online calc.

This is an excellent calculator.

You really need to know two things:

1. the width of the lanes - either 1.06m (42 inches) or 1.22m (48 inches)

2. if the track was measured to have a kerb or not.

thejeff wrote:

thanks for asking wrote:

Running 1500 meters in lane three should yield a better time than running 1500 meters in lane one because the turns are gentler.

This is the correct answer. 1500m should be faster the farther out you are from lane 1.

However, if you start in lane 3 EVEN with someone starting ins lane 1, you will run farther than 1500m.

I rarely say this, but: End of Thread.

Yeah, check out a professional race sometime. The first and second lanes are total ghost towns. No one wants to be the sucker running inside of lane 3 at least.

snow blow wrote:

Old Timey Guy wrote:

What about if you only had to run a 1500 regardless of which lane you ran in? In other words, if you were on the outside lane, you'd end sooner (as a position on the track) than if you ran on the inside lane. Which lane would actually end up being the fastest to run in?

Psychologically speaking, you'd want to be in lane one because that's where you always are, but would that really be the best one?

You'd want lane 8 (or 9) since it has less of a curve. See WVN's 400m record.

Less curvature, but longer distance in that curved section of the track vs.on the straightaways. All things being equal, having more straight track:curved track ratio would favor the more interior lanes unless you are naturally a faster curve-runner.

David thanks for the comment. In London there were lane violation DQs on the runout of the water jump. Can you clarify what portions of the runout are straight (no advantage gained) and curved (advantage gained)? Thanks.

My thought is no part of those lines are set at 90 degrees in relation to the barrier and pit, angled if you will. Thus the whole runin /runout should be treated as if it is a curved portion (advantage gained).