Running on HS Track- lane distances varies (Read 1240 times)

Boy I love my Garmin. I don' have to try to do this kind of math, I just look down at my forerunner and I know how far I have gone. Sorry, I can't help with your question. But I can say that I love my Garmin and would recommend one to anyone.

I just look down at my forerunner and I know how far I have gone.

Do you really know for sure? Have you used it on a track?

http://www.philsport.com/narf/atrack.htm#A

I don't run on a track, but the info is interesting. I would never have thought the discrepency was so large between lanes.

Garmins don't do well on tracks at all, they almost always measure long. Significantly long. I think Garmin "squares off" the corners. I use this site because I also am prohibited from using lanes 1-4 and it is too dark usually to see any of the other markers and since i never ran track remembering what is for the 400 vs. 800 etc. I find the site useful when I want to hit specific interval paces, I go in ahead of time and know Lane 7 is X to be equal to 3:45 800 in lane 1 Never mind, went to put in the link and it is the same one as slaptears.

Yes. Not very accurate with courses that have many sharp corners, especially. Why? It records sample points, and strings them together. Software in the unit can then try to correct for this. Think - if it took points, and strung them together, you would always get an artificially long distance. So they make an algorithm to correct for this. It is an estimate. And then your wrist is gesticulating around all the time, and the data points can be a ziggy zaggy line, making it artificially long. Try one person running 100 laps, same lane, then another person, and you will see it is not the same. But the track is the same. And on different days - not the same. If you want an accurate distance ... a jones counter on a bike. I got all nuts with this stuff before I grew some sense and learned it was the effort and time that count more than anything. I also spraypainted the roads around where I live every 100m with a steel tape. Just so I know - you know, and the track is occupied or snowcovered or something.

Yes. Not very accurate with courses that have many sharp corners, especially. Why? It records sample points, and strings them together. Software in the unit can then try to correct for this. Think - if it took points, and strung them together, you would always get an artificially long distance. So they make an algorithm to correct for this. It is an estimate. And then your wrist is gesticulating around all the time, and the data points can be a ziggy zaggy line, making it artificially long. Try one person running 100 laps, same lane, then another person, and you will see it is not the same. But the track is the same. And on different days - not the same. If you want an accurate distance ... a jones counter on a bike. I got all nuts with this stuff before I grew some sense and learned it was the effort and time that count more than anything. I also spraypainted the roads around where I live every 100m with a steel tape. Just so I know - you know, and the track is occupied or snowcovered or something.

*giggle* Okay--I'll go away now

Duh- yes, I guess I noticed all those triangles- I didn't know what they were for. But there is hundred of different markings on this new rubberized track. Guess I need to google (anyone know of a good web site that explains the markings? ) what each one means. DW and I usually run 5K distance on them. Only have been on the track twice. I am still road running with the hills and slants and everything, but the one or two runs per week on the track does give my aging body a much need break. Plus I can listen to my ZUNE while running. It's the only time I run with music. Track running is almost as boring as running on a treadmill.

In general, triangles mark the handoff zones for various relays (usually 4 x 100 and 4 x 400) and you can ignore those. If you're running 5000m on a track in anything other than lane 1, there is no marking that can help you. The website you linked above is your best bet. If you're doing 200's or 400's (and maybe 800's depending on your track) then you can use the staggered starting lines and finish at the common finish line.

Duh- yes, I guess I noticed all those triangles- I didn't know what they were for. But there is hundred of different markings on this new rubberized track. Guess I need to google (anyone know of a good web site that explains the markings? ) what each one means. DW and I usually run 5K distance on them. Only have been on the track twice. I am still road running with the hills and slants and everything, but the one or two runs per week on the track does give my aging body a much need break. Plus I can listen to my ZUNE while running. It's the only time I run with music. Track running is almost as boring as running on a treadmill.

Found a couple: Explanations of markings at a track in California, with photos. Sample Computerized Drawing For Track Marking (from a company that builds and / or marks tracks) Also this article on myths and mistakes to watch for regarding track measurements: Clarifying Track Times And Distances MTCS