All-weather running track
Encyclopedia
An all weather running track is the common term to describe a rubberized artificial running surface for the sport of Track and field athletics. Throughout the history of the sport, there has always been a search for a consistent surface that gave competitors an equal advantage, to test their athletic ability not encumbered by dealing with adverse conditions. There are other events in and around the sport that do incorporate dealing with the elements as part of the sport, but Track and Field has always deemed most of its competition in more scientific terms. Various forms of dirt, grass, sand and ultimately crushed cinders were used. Many examples of these varieties of track still exist worldwide.
tracks are built to NFHS high school specifications that allow smaller lanes. The IAAF also specifies a preferred radius for the turns at 37 metres, but allows a range. Major international level meets are conducted and world records are allowed to be set on tracks that are not exactly 37 metres, but do fall in the range. An explanation of the various calibrated lines on a running track is posted here
in Melbourne
, Australia
. During the 1960s many of these tracks were constructed, examples still exist today. Their survival are a testament to the durability and inconsistency of these early attempts.
In the mid-1960s Tartan track
s, surfaced with a product by 3M
. The name Tartan is a trademark, but many have misused it as a Genericized trademark
. This process was the first to commercialize a Polyurethane
surface for running tracks, though originally conceived for horse racing. Many Tartan tracks were installed worldwide including at many of the top Universities in the United States
. Among that list was a Tartan track installed in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario
, home of the 1968 Summer Olympics
at Mexico City
which were the first global championships to use such a track. It has become standard ever since. Another was installed on a temporary basis for the 1968 United States Olympic Trials
held at altitude at Echo Summit
, California
, before being moved to South Tahoe Middle School, where it survived for almost 40 years. An original Tartan track is still in place (though horribly mistreated) at "Speed City"http://www.speedcityera.com/ San Jose State University
on a satellite to the campus at 10th Street and Alma. Years of the abuse of tractors tearing it and cars parked on it shows the durability of this original product.
Surfacing tracks has become an industry with many competitors.
and there are other techniques that distribute small chunks of rubber then adhere them in place with various Polyurethane or latex
substances.
The International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF), international governing body of the sport, publishes very specific regulations for the conduct of a Global Championship or International level track meet (which is their jurisdiction of the sport).
Since its inception in the early-1980's, the manufacturer of the surfaces selected for most championship meets has been by the Italian
company, Mondo, again the trademark
ed brand name becoming misused as a genericized trademark. Mondo surfaces differ in that they are more of a rubber carpet, cut to size then tightly seamed together (in the linear direction along the lane lines). This form of construction gives a more consistent bounce (or energy return) and traction. Because of the tight fit specifications required for manufacture, construction surrounding these sites also has to be of a higher standard, making Mondo also one of the most expensive systems to use. Examples of Mondo tracks were used for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
, 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, Greece
and 1996 Summer Olympics
(since removed from the Centennial Olympic Stadium
) in Atlanta, Georgia
, USA and record setting locations King Baudouin Stadium
in Brussels
, Belgium
. Estádio Olímpico João Havelange
, the future home of the 2016 Summer Olympics
also has a Mondo surface.
Another player in the marketplace is BASF
owned Conica, which can boast the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
in Berlin
, Germany
(where Usain Bolt
improved his 100 meters and 200 meters world records), along with other record hosting venues like Stadio Olimpico
in Rome
, Italy
Measurement of a track
The proper length for a competitive running track is 400 m (1,312.3 ft). Some tracks are not built to this specification, some are legacy to imperial distances like 440 yd (402.3 m). Prior to rule changes in 1980, imperial distances were still used in the United States. Some facilities build tracks to fit the available space. Olympic tracks in the early 20th century were of other lengths. Each lane of the track could (by international IAAF Rules should) be as wide as 122 cm (4 ft), though the majority of AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tracks are built to NFHS high school specifications that allow smaller lanes. The IAAF also specifies a preferred radius for the turns at 37 metres, but allows a range. Major international level meets are conducted and world records are allowed to be set on tracks that are not exactly 37 metres, but do fall in the range. An explanation of the various calibrated lines on a running track is posted here
History
Starting in the late 1950s, artificial surfaces using a combination of rubber and asphalt began to appear. Possibly the first was a warm up track constructed for the 1956 Summer Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. During the 1960s many of these tracks were constructed, examples still exist today. Their survival are a testament to the durability and inconsistency of these early attempts.
In the mid-1960s Tartan track
Tartan track
Tartan Track is the trademarked all-weather synthetic track surfacing made of polyurethane which is used for track and field competitions. It lets athletes compete in bad weather without serious performance loss and improves their results over other surfaces...
s, surfaced with a product by 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
. The name Tartan is a trademark, but many have misused it as a Genericized trademark
Genericized trademark
A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder...
. This process was the first to commercialize a Polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
surface for running tracks, though originally conceived for horse racing. Many Tartan tracks were installed worldwide including at many of the top Universities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Among that list was a Tartan track installed in the Estadio Olímpico Universitario
Estadio Olímpico Universitario
Estadio Olímpico Universitario is a stadium located in Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City. It was built in 1952 and at that time was the largest stadium in Mexico. This stadium has a capacity of 63,186 . During the 50s and the 60s this stadium was used mostly for college American football matches...
, home of the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
at Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
which were the first global championships to use such a track. It has become standard ever since. Another was installed on a temporary basis for the 1968 United States Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
held at altitude at Echo Summit
Echo Summit
Echo Summit is a mountain pass located in eastern El Dorado County, California, USA. At an elevation of , it is the highest point on U.S...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, before being moved to South Tahoe Middle School, where it survived for almost 40 years. An original Tartan track is still in place (though horribly mistreated) at "Speed City"http://www.speedcityera.com/ San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
on a satellite to the campus at 10th Street and Alma. Years of the abuse of tractors tearing it and cars parked on it shows the durability of this original product.
Surfacing tracks has become an industry with many competitors.
- Tartan; The legacy of the brand is now known as Tartan APS
- ChevronChevron CorporationChevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
440; was a popular surface of the mid-1970s - Rekortan; was invented and used for the 1972 Summer Olympics1972 Summer OlympicsThe 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and is still licensed Worldwide - Eurotan
- Martin ISS was another 1970's development which now goes by the name of the manufacturer "Benyon"
- Plexitracs
and there are other techniques that distribute small chunks of rubber then adhere them in place with various Polyurethane or latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
substances.
The International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
(IAAF), international governing body of the sport, publishes very specific regulations for the conduct of a Global Championship or International level track meet (which is their jurisdiction of the sport).
Since its inception in the early-1980's, the manufacturer of the surfaces selected for most championship meets has been by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
company, Mondo, again the trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
ed brand name becoming misused as a genericized trademark. Mondo surfaces differ in that they are more of a rubber carpet, cut to size then tightly seamed together (in the linear direction along the lane lines). This form of construction gives a more consistent bounce (or energy return) and traction. Because of the tight fit specifications required for manufacture, construction surrounding these sites also has to be of a higher standard, making Mondo also one of the most expensive systems to use. Examples of Mondo tracks were used for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
(since removed from the Centennial Olympic Stadium
Centennial Olympic Stadium
Centennial Olympic Stadium was the 85,000-seat main stadium of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Construction of the stadium began in 1993, and it was complete and ready for the Opening Ceremony in July 1996, where it hosted track and field events and the closing ceremony...
) in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA and record setting locations King Baudouin Stadium
King Baudouin Stadium
The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Estádio Olímpico João Havelange
Estádio Olímpico João Havelange
-Women's tournament:Group A----Group B----Group A----Group B----Group A----Group B----Group B----Group A-External links:*...
, the future home of the 2016 Summer Olympics
2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...
also has a Mondo surface.
Another player in the marketplace is BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
owned Conica, which can boast the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(where Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
improved his 100 meters and 200 meters world records), along with other record hosting venues like Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
External links
- http://www.runtrackdir.com/runtrackdir.com list of All Weather Tracks in United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
] - http://www.trackinfo.org/tracks.htmlTrackinfo.org listing of All Weather tracks in the Western United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
]