Why is track run counter clock-wise?

[BillVol]

Why not run clock-wise on even-numbered days? I think this change could revolutionize the sport.

[stallion]

Gee, why not count down from midnight to 11pm then 10pm, 9pm.....etc. every other day. I think this could revolutionize our world. Why not drive on the left hand side of the road in the U.S. on odd days. I think this could revolutionize traffic flow....

[BruceFlorman]

How about just in the southern hemisphere?

[unclezadok]

You don't know about the Southern Hemishpere Rule??

[kevinsdad]

If you really want to revolutionize the sport have half the field run one way and half the other. :lol:

[Quick Silver]

Running Backwards

I believe that when Bannister ran his first sub-4, most races at the Oxford track were run clockwise. The famous photo suggests that the sub-4 wasn't.

Quick Silver
Hong Kong

[bbellows23]

It is a conspiracy against left-handed people.

I lost several races to right handed runners because of this.

[JRM]

How about just in the southern hemisphere?

That's why there are no meets held on the equator.

[Seeksreal]

I was just thinking about this issue and found this thread. Are there any rules that require races to be run counter-clockwise? I think it would be very interesting to see what would happen if the direction was changed. Would the times be faster or slower?

[tandfman]

Are there any rules that require races to be run counter-clockwise?

Yes. IAAF Rule 163.1.

[26mi235]

How about just in the southern hemisphere?

That's why there are no meets held on the equator.

Well, the exact equator is a set of measure zero, as you well know, JRM

Of course, a real practical reason is that the marks would have to be duplicated, one set for each direction, and that would be a nightmare, as well as sow considerable confusion.

[Daisy]

as well as sow considerable confusion.

Doesn't seem to worry the guys in HS 1600/Mile/1500. :P

[26mi235]

as well as sow considerable confusion.

Doesn't seem to worry the guys in HS 1600/Mile/1500. :P

There is no confusion for HS, as they run whole laps, the confusion arises when you add the mile or 1500. :lol:

[Daisy]

as well as sow considerable confusion.

Doesn't seem to worry the guys in HS 1600/Mile/1500. :P

There is no confusion for HS, as they run whole laps, the confusion arises when you add the mile or 1500. :lol:

But don't they do both mile and 1600 (possibly all three)? Were HS'ers confused when Webb broke the HS mile record? Or was it just the parents that were confused?

[26mi235]

as well as sow considerable confusion.

Doesn't seem to worry the guys in HS 1600/Mile/1500. :P

There is no confusion for HS, as they run whole laps, the confusion arises when you add the mile or 1500. :lol:

But don't they do both mile and 1600 (possibly all three)? Were HS'ers confused when Webb broke the HS mile record? Or was it just the parents that were confused?

Webb did not run a HS mile, he ran that at Pre and that is a record kept by TFN, not the HS guys. In general (see the states noted above), the HS do not do the 1500 or the mile. The end-of season meets (NON etc) are not HS meets in the sense that they are not run by the HS organizations and I am not sure what distances are selected for them.

[And doesn't this belong on that other thread?]