I’ve been running at the track to give my foot a flat, cushioned surface as I recover from the hiking injury that had me sidelined all summer, and have been surprised at how much math I am doing — or am trying to do.
To keep track of three miles worth of laps, I decided to change lanes with each lap, moving from lane 1 to lane 6 and back. I noticed that my splits were a bit longer in the outside lanes, and my Garmin measured a 0.01 mile difference in lap length between lanes 1-3 and lanes 4-6. That might sound negligible, but it meant that a lap in lane 6 could take 5 seconds longer than a lap in lane 3 at the same pace.
Still don’t think that matters? A difference in 0.01 miles per 400M would add up to more than an extra half mile in a half marathon:
(0.01 miles / 0.24 miles) X 13.1 miles = 0.55 miles
Of course, most half marathons are not run on a track, but this shows how being in the “outside” lane of a race course can make a difference, especially if the route has lots of turns.
My second math lesson was in the field of algebra. To test out my foot for the National Press Club 5K I wanted to do a progressive workout of 400M, 800M, 1200M and 1600M at about a 9:30 pace, with a recovery lap in between. I thought I each lap should take about 2:20, but I didn’t take into account that the laps at this particular track appear to be long–or at least my Garmin measures them long. Even though I struggled to keep a 2:20-ish/lap pace, I ended up with sub-9:00 split times.
I thought my track math skills had gotten rusty after my summer off from running, but according to this Track Interval Pace Counter, 2:20 minutes was the correct target pace for a 200M lap. As you can see from my Garmin data, each lap was measuring at 0.27 or 0.28 miles, instead of 0.24 miles (=400M). So, while I thought I failed math at the track, it’s really the track that failed me.
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Do you have a hard time doing math at the track?
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I HATE calculating anything while running haha. I run on an indoor track right now and 9 laps is a mile and my Garmin doesn’t pick up a signal. So I have to run holding my phone with the stopwatch feature running and hit “lap” every time so I know have many I’ve done haha.
Yeah, I would lose count pretty easily too! Using your phone app is a good idea.
I calibrated my foot pod at (I think) the same track…it is totally not correct & I feel like an absolute rockstar when I run with it. ???? I also was training for a sub 24 5k this year, but I kept missing my splits with my coach/husband…this makes me feel a lot better.
It is hard to be precise with so many variables. So, I guess we should be more forgiving of ourselves when we don’t quite nail our goals!
That’s why you run the tangents in the road race :). When a course is certified, it is certified to the tangents. So, your 5K will most likely read more than 3.1 miles if you did ANY weaving at all and it’s hard not to do sometimes. My 5K on Saturday was 3.16 but it’s a certified course (I just had to run around cars since the course was open to traffic). It also helps to check out a course map so that you know when the turns will occur and you can run on that side of the road.
As for track, run the intervals in the lane you feel comfortable in and pay attention to the pace on the watch more than the distance. As long as your average pace is close on them, you’re good :).
I’m not sure I trust my Garmin pace that much either, but you’re probably right.
That sounds like a lot of work to get a run in!!
Honestly, when I run on a track, I hang on the inside lane (if there’s nobody faster) and trust that it’s close to 400m. When racing I am ALL about the tangents.
good plan! sometimes I forget about the tangents to get space, but if there are sharp turns I try to get to the inside.
I always run in the outside lane at the track and it ended up adding an extra quarter mile for me last week! I was surprised at how much of a difference the lane makes.
Yeah, that outside line really does make a difference.
When I hit the track I usually aim for staying in lane 2 and leave my Garmin at home, relying instead on my old trusty Timex. I’m learning to get better about running the tangents in a race but still have a lot to learn.
Timex? 🙂 Once I remember/re-learn the split times I’m after, paying more attention to those would be a good idea.
Each track lane makes a difference, not just lane 8. The tracks, unless they were shoddily made, are set to pretty close standards. Here’s an online calculator to help you figure out each lane length:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/disttracklanecalc.html
Oh, cool! Thanks.
I am math challenged lol I am very confused now. I do not have a track that is easy access, but I actually thought about using the bus loop at a school that is on my morning route for a little speed work. I guess I need to be careful I run it the same way each time.
I’ve never run on a track (honestly) but the loop in my park, which is about four feet wide, can vary according to whether you are running the inside or outside. I tried to give up math once I got a Garmin. Pre Garmin, it was exhausting to do all the calculations! I’m surprise at your elevation gain/loss on the track.
I hadn’t even looked at that. The graphic data shows a slight elevation at one end. Actually, the tracks I’ve used have that – maybe it helps with drainage?
That is a lot of math work!!! and I like numbers 🙂 My friend and I were talking about that this weekend. We ran side by side for the half- she ran the middle I ran the right outside (in case I fell) – she did not record the full 13.1 miles o her Garmin but I did. HMMMM
I’m just impressed that you could run on the track for that long. And I’m glad your foot is behaving. I think I get tired on a track after about a mile. But, I love that you moved lanes each lap, I would totally lose count.
Im with Carrie.
It’s so impressive you are there and running and moving NEEDING THE MATH at the track.
Id come and just be your counter.
Me and math have never been friends. Your mention of math and images of equations literally just gave me heart palpitations. And now I think I’m having chest pains.
There are no tracks around here, but I am sure I would wonk it up.
I hate doing math at the track. I always lose count and can never figure it out, lol!
haha, I had the same-ish problems with track math a few years ago. I don’t get super calculated about it when I go. A workout I recently did was run one fast loop around, then half a loop for recovery. That’s as calculated as I get!
I fail in math all the time for this kind of thing. I am always going back and forth between km and miles, pace and mph, etc. It constantly gets mixed up in my mind… even if I am pretty good at math generally ! I think I am too lazy to be too specific….
Oh, the km/mi thing would totally confuse me!