The common assumption is that four laps of a track equals one mile. But does it? Is every track the same? What about if you want to run more or less than a mile? How many laps around the track is a mile if you’re in lane 1 vs lane 4? Let’s break this all down.
Not knowing the answers to these questions shouldn’t discourage you from heading to the track for a workout. Track workouts can be an integral part of your training program, helping you improve your speed, leg turnover, and form.
Or perhaps you’ve been gearing up to watch some Olympics or other track and field races, so you’ve got questions.
Fantastic, we’re here to break it down with everything you need to know and help explain why you see staggered start lines or why they’re always pushing for that inside lane in longer distances.
Let’s get in to everything you need to know about running on the track and measuring laps.
Understanding Track Lane Distances
Most standard outdoor tracks are oval-shaped with eight lanes with the innermost lane measuring 400 meters. If you head to your local high school track or if you have a college nearby with a track open to the public, odds are they’ll match this standard.
Sometimes tracks may have slightly different but still circular shapes depending on the space…
