What Are the Dimensions of a Running Track?
A standard running track should measure 400 meters around from start to finish, according to the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations. The straight path must measure 84.39 meters and the semicircle curved path 115.611 meters. In addition, the track must contain eight lanes, each with a width of 1.22 meters.
The track consists of two semicircles with a radius of 36.5 meters and two straight paths. Total track width should be at least 72 meters. Once the measurements are configured, the total length of the track’s inner edge is estimated to be 398.12 meters, which may be calculated by the circumference of the two semicircles and the lengths of the two straights. The theoretical running path for this set of dimensions is 400 meters when measured 0.3 meter from the central vacant area, which is called the kerb.
All lanes should be separated by white lines with a width of 5 centimeters. Start lines for each lane are measured from the finish line clockwise. This is to ensure uniform running distances for runners, who will be running counterclockwise. Start and finish lines are marked perpendicular to the lane separation lines.
The International Association of Athletics Federations rules recommend the placement of a suitable material on the kerb in order to distinguish this area from the actual running track. Most running tracks use grass on the kerb area, in contrast with the brown rubberized surface of the running area.
