Track markings explained

Just thought I'd explain for beginners what all those lines and triangles on a track mean.
UPDATE: Not long after I posted this, the NFHS did adopt a change to eliminate the acceleration zone for the 4x100 and 4x200. The zone for those relays has been extended to 30m, so the small triangle now marks the beginning of the exchange zone for those relays (and future tracks will likely make them large triangles). The existing big triangle at the start of each 4x100 and 4x200 zone is now effectively a waste of paint.

[@philliptaylor5981]

Great video! Wish more track people would share this!

[@bobkin611]

Thank you! The only coherent track explanation out of the 5 I watched. Much appreciated

[@techhelptostudy]

Thank you sir to give valuable knowledge.

[@violinsheetmusicblog]

thank you!!

[@believetoachieve3533]

What's the distance between the 2 yellow dashed lines?

[@cristo1838]

Should be 100m if you're referring to ones I think. We never use them because we have an east/west track, but we could run the girls 100H race backwards and use the existing hurdle markings. It's definitely confusing. Basically it's because the distance from the start to the first hurdle is not the same as the distance from the last hurdle to the finish line, so changing directions to put the wind at your back makes things complicated.

[@cyumadbrosummit3534]

If there are no "200m" markings on a track, do you just choose whatever staggered markings that start on the beginning of a curve?

[@cristo1838]

(Just saw this, sorry). The start of the 200m dash will be in the center of the 2nd 4x100 exchange zone. Though, that will soon become outdated, as they (at least the NFHS) have eliminated the 10m acceleration zone, making the 20m exchange zone now 30m.
Even if it doesn't say "200" on your track, there should be staggered lines halfway around the track spaced about 2m apart (I forget the exact distance of the top of my head).

[@jacksonshearn9701]

@@cristo1838 Do you know if there is a marking for the 150

[@cristo1838]

@@jacksonshearn9701 That's not a standard race distance (at least in Kansas!) so I've never heard of a track being marked for 150m. BUT, if you just want to have a 150 for practice, I found a chart that said the 4th hurdle marking for the 300H should be 150m from the 300H start. I haven't verified this, but it sounds reasonable. That would also put that same 4th hurdle mark, 150m from the finish line. Might have to use that myself! So, I guess you could do a 150m race potentially, using the 4th 300H mark as the starting line in each lane.

[@psclips846]

It's good but the vid is to long

[@augustburnsorange1748]

does anyone know what type of curve is the one at 1:10? I think it is a hyperbola

[@cristo1838]

Honestly, a good question. I’ve always wondered how scientifically it was calculated or if … actually, here’s my guess just now. Set a point on the inside of lane 1 as the radius of a circle, with the idea being everyone is now the same distance from that point. Though maybe not. Does look more exponential than circular.