The Athletics Track

A common question of the average spectator about athletics is - how big is the track? - or words to that effect. The likelihood is, of course, that they will be referring to a standard outdoor track - similar to that used in the Olympics. So here is the answer to that question, and also some more information about alternate track sizes:

Generally speaking, there are two main seasons for track events - indoor and outdoor. The most popular season, and that which recieves more coverage and exposure is outdoor track.

Outdoor Track

An outdoor track is the typical one we can all picture, as used in major events like the Olympic Games. It is oval-shaped, and is generally 400m long - approximately 1/4 mile.

Different tracks may have varying numbers of lanes, although the standard for major events such as the Olympics is 9.

Field events typically take place in the centre of the track.

Indoor Track

The standard indoor track tends to be 200m long - half the size of the outdoor equivalent. Indoor meets are similar to outdoor events, although there are a few minor differences. An example of such a difference is the lack of a 100m race at indoor meets - typically sprints are run at 60m indoors.

For more information about athletics coaching, or for tips on how to improve your performance, please visit our coaching section.