Why is the track 10,000m a race

I like watching 10000 m races on the track. It's better than a road race because you can see where all the guys are, and stuff always happens. It's over in less than half an hour which I don't consider to be long at all.

In the short (for the purposes of my argument, we'll say anything shorter than 800m, but it can apply) distances, there are 7 events (100, 200, 400, 110/100h, 400h, 4x100, & 4x400) at major championships. I personally include most jumps here because the required energy systems and fitness are either equivalent or translatable (especially LJ/TJ where there are many examples of athletes who perform well in both track and field) so there are effectively 11 events that require a strength and conditioning, non aerobic style of training in track and field. 12 if you want to count decathlon, but I think both distance runners and sprinters know that's another ball game altogether.

The reality that many distance runners tend to shrug off but are now having to defend because of the IAAF's ridiculous decision making regarding the diamond league and Olympic/World standards is that track and field has always been biased against distance running, for whatever reason. There are only 5 distance events at major champs (probably soon to be 3-4) and given the removal of the 4x800 from world relays, not including a DMR or 4x1500 since 2015...it seems that your attitude is shared by many.

Distance running may be more exciting for some people on the road and XC surfaces, but my opinion is that the only reason for this is because you can move around on the event day, see different parts of the course, and get up close to the competitors. This actually happens in a lot of track distance races, and while it shouldn't be allowed at major meets, it does make meets more exciting. This is actually the way to save distance running, to promote more meets where fans can get up close and personal to long distance races, cheer for them, encourage them to run a hot pace, etc. Major champs are somewhat dry anyway, because there is so much on the line in each race and out of 6-32 people competing in an athletics final, only one gets the glory. The IAAF doesn't seem to realize that unless you have a Bolt or Farah sort of character at the olympics and worlds, most viewers won't know what the f*ck is going on anyway. Commentary sucks at these meets.

The only thing I would say to convince you (I was a sprinter myself) to appreciate distance track races is that they are exciting if you know how to watch them and understand there's more of a time investment in appreciating how they'll play out. A move someone makes at 4k in a 10k race could have serious consequences for them over the last 600-1000, etc, etc.

There is a practical reason, however, as to why to keep distance running available on the track, and that is so as you say, athletes can shine on the roads and XC. in general, the best runners on the roads and XC have had a small to legendary career on the track, and I think Eliud Kipchoge made a post wherein he said something along the lines of "my track career helped me be a better runner on the roads" and this is absolutely correct. I may have misparaphrased, though.

10K in major championships should be on the road.

There should be a 4x800 relay too in the championships.

Sprinter. wrote:

I understand 5000m but I feel like this is a bit excessive. Not the distance itself but 5 laps on the track seems like a lot, especially when there are few racing opportunities on the pro circuit. Not looking to start an argument but I feel like this distance would be better suited to the roads/xc instead of track racing. Leave your thoughts below

agreed. Remove 10k from oly, add in cross country (no exact distance, varies from 8 to 12k). Add in 4x800m relay or DMR.

epicTCK wrote:

Sprinter. wrote:

I understand 5000m but I feel like this is a bit excessive. Not the distance itself but 5 laps on the track seems like a lot, especially when there are few racing opportunities on the pro circuit. Not looking to start an argument but I feel like this distance would be better suited to the roads/xc instead of track racing. Leave your thoughts below

agreed. Remove 10k from oly, add in cross country (no exact distance, varies from 8 to 12k). Add in 4x800m relay or DMR.

I've been track for a long time and enjoy watching a good 10000. I have absolutely no interest in XC being added to the Olympics. If you find the 10000 to be so offensive, record the meets on TV and skip the race , or if you are at the meet in person, take a trip to the restroom or the concession stands. Your relays suggestion wouldn't work since the best guys are going to be running the 800 and/or 1500. It would be a B team race.

Personally, my favorite event on the track.

what are you talking about? wrote:

Personally, my favorite event on the track.

Mine too. On the track you can see the whole race which you cannot usually do when it's run on a road or cross country course.

HRE wrote:

Mine too. On the track you can see the whole race which you cannot usually do when it's run on a road or cross country course.

Exactly. Those who paid for their ticket want to see it in the stadium. Track and Field has a history of more than 100 years. It's an odd mix of events but it has grown together and the tradition is part of its identity.

The 10000m (men) have been part of the Olympics since 1912 and of all the European and World Championships. For women since 86/87/88 respectively. They belong to athletics and should not be eliminated.

Jo72 wrote:

HRE wrote:

Mine too. On the track you can see the whole race which you cannot usually do when it's run on a road or cross country course.

Exactly. Those who paid for their ticket want to see it in the stadium. Track and Field has a history of more than 100 years. It's an odd mix of events but it has grown together and the tradition is part of its identity.

The 10000m (men) have been part of the Olympics since 1912 and of all the European and World Championships. For women since 86/87/88 respectively. They belong to athletics and should not be eliminated.

+1

These responses are great, I understand the appeal a bit more now. Thanks

SDSU Aztec wrote:

epicTCK wrote:

agreed. Remove 10k from oly, add in cross country (no exact distance, varies from 8 to 12k). Add in 4x800m relay or DMR.

I've been track for a long time and enjoy watching a good 10000. I have absolutely no interest in XC being added to the Olympics. If you find the 10000 to be so offensive, record the meets on TV and skip the race , or if you are at the meet in person, take a trip to the restroom or the concession stands. Your relays suggestion wouldn't work since the best guys are going to be running the 800 and/or 1500. It would be a B team race.

I enjoy the 10,000, but I would honestly rather watch a xc race. I think it would be really cool if they added xc and had it start and end on the track with 3 or so loops of the course. So mass start on the straight away of the track, exit the stadium, do one loop, do a lap on the track, repeat three times, ending on the track. Broadcast the loops onto the jumbotron so the audience can watch every move happening outside the stadium.

Stage it during lj trials or something, so people can watch both at once.

Sprinter. wrote:

These responses are great, I understand the appeal a bit more now. Thanks

You're welcome.

Enough athletes enjoy competing in the 10,000 that it makes sense. I think I'd probably run track races up to 10 miles before I'd say, alright, this is too long to be on the track.

I like X country but I don't get the obsession with bringing this back into Olympics. First, it is a niche preference. Second, it's been gone for ages (and in the 1920s it was in addition to the 10k track races). It is simply not feasible to begin it in a a big city stadium and then return for the finish. One could do another road race, but we already have the marathon. And I would be pretty pissed as a visitor to get a broadcast instead of ca. 27 minutes of live action.

Certainly more people participating in xc races in the world than 10ks, by a long shot. Trail races, fell running, and high school xc all have decent participation. It's less niche than the track 10,000.

I'm not sure why that is relevant. The IOC wants to shake things up one way or another.

Most olympic stadiums are built in the middle of a park already. For most of the recent Olympics, it would actually have been really easy to do this.

For example London is in the middle of a park with about a 2 mile perimeter. Not too tough to make 1.5 mile loops, maybe even make it a clover leaf.

Rio wouldn't work, it's just a tiny green area around the stadium with buildings all around that.

Beijing has a massive park around it that was built for the Olympics, they easily could have incorporated a set of trails into that since it was all brand new construction.

Sydney is surrounded by a massive park as well with extensive paths, just make a few obstacles and hills.

Athens stadium is surrounded by heavily wooded park.

So 5 of the past 6 would be easily done.

Auto sports is the biggest sport in the world in terms of audience and this is the format they use, you see the competition for a portion of each lap. I get what you're saying, though.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

epicTCK wrote:

agreed. Remove 10k from oly, add in cross country (no exact distance, varies from 8 to 12k). Add in 4x800m relay or DMR.

I've been track for a long time and enjoy watching a good 10000. I have absolutely no interest in XC being added to the Olympics. If you find the 10000 to be so offensive, record the meets on TV and skip the race , or if you are at the meet in person, take a trip to the restroom or the concession stands. Your relays suggestion wouldn't work since the best guys are going to be running the 800 and/or 1500. It would be a B team race.

I enjoy watching it as well. It's a very interesting event to watch. But for the average person, it's way too long, no change of scenery, and an xc 10km is 10x more interesting than track 10000m. It can showcase new scenery in each olympics, more upsets, etc. The 10km is basically the 5km all over again, but just longer.

The 5000m is only 13 minutes, it's faster, more gear changes, etc.

The track 10,000 is the hardest track event, because most people - like the OP - are not able to do it.

Thus the 10,000 meter race is the most exciting event on the track.

Except when Mo Farah's in the race, and it invariably becomes a jog fest.

You guys are funny. College XC is 2k loops ona groomed flat golf course. That’s not XC, it’s a version of the track.

The 10k in the Olympics would be a lap around the parking lot. I’d rather watch it on the track any day.

Sprinter. wrote:

I understand 5000m but I feel like this is a bit excessive. Not the distance itself but 5 laps on the track seems like a lot, especially when there are few racing opportunities on the pro circuit. Not looking to start an argument but I feel like this distance would be better suited to the roads/xc instead of track racing. Leave your thoughts below

Why is there a track 100m a race? I understand 200m but I feel like this is a bit excessively short. Not the distance itself but one straightaway on the track seems way too short, especially when there are few racing opportunities on the pro circuit.