Athletics Track: Your step-by-step guide to creating a track

The tartan track or athletics track is your comprehensive guide to creating a track (track) step by step is one of the essential elements in sports facilities, as it is used in running, jumping, throwing and many Olympic sports, and to ensure optimal performance and safety for athletes, the running track must be equipped according to international standards in terms of the type of flooring, track sizes, and the quality of the materials used. In this article, we review in detail the types of athletics tracks, the most important specifications of the running track, as well as important tips when implementing an athletics track in line with international standards to ensure quality and efficiency.

 

What is track and field?

A tartan track or athletics track is an oval track used for running competitions of various types, such as sprints, middle distance, long distance, as well as relay races. The track is an essential part of athletics facilities in Olympic stadiums, schools and sports clubs.

Each lane has a certain width that allows runners to move without overlapping. The track is laid out in an 8-to-6 configuration, typically consisting of a meter in the inside lane.400), with an official length of World Athletics and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards (

What are the types of athletics track?

Athletics tracks are divided in terms of location into two main types, each of which differs in terms of design, surroundings, and nature of use:

1. Outdoor Track

The outdoor track is the traditional and recognized format for athletics competitions and is used in national, international and Olympic championships. It is created outdoors in open-air athletic fields, often surrounding a field that contains other facilities such as a soccer field or throwing and jumping areas.

• Important technical specifications:
  1.  meter (measured at the inner lane)400Official length: .
  2.  Meters per lane1.22 lanes, 9 to 6 lanes wide: Typically ranges from .
  3. The shape of the track: An oval, made up of two long straights and two curves at the ends.
  4. Bends: Designed to minimize loss of speed and slippage, and subject to IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) specifications.
• The main components inside the track:
  1.
  1. Vaulting areas: Such as the long, triple and high jump.
  2. Throwing zones: such as shot put, discus throw, javelin throw.
  3. Indoor arena: Often used for sports like hammer throwing or even soccer games.
• Advantages of the outdoor track:
  1. All official athletics competitions are allowed without exception.
  2. It provides ample space to accommodate a larger number of athletes.
  3. Withstands heavy use and weather fluctuations when executed with high-quality materials such as tartan or acrylic.
• Examples of its uses:
  1. Olympic Championships and the World Cup of Athletics.
  2. University and school patrols.
  3. National and local team practices.

2. Indoor Track

Used indoors, the indoor athletics track is an ideal solution for training and competitions in areas with cold weather or during the winter season. This type of track is characterized by a compact design that fits into limited spaces without compromising athletes’ performance.

• Key technical specifications:

• 1. Meters (approximately half the length of the outdoor track)200Official length: .
  2. Lanes only6 to 4Number of lanes: Often has .
  3. Bends: Steeper compared to an outdoor track, often built at a slight incline or elevation to minimize the effect of gravity and excessive speed in the turns.
  4. Floor: Made of the same high-performance materials such as tartan or flexible acrylic.
• Track or indoor track design:
  1. Its design is oval but more narrow, requiring some types of races to be modified or the number of participants in each round to be reduced.
  2. In some cases, the indoor track has an upper deck that provides additional space for spectators or other training.
• The advantages of a track or indoor track:
  1. It allows for year-round exercise, regardless of weather conditions.
  2. It provides an ideal environment for winter training and preparations.
  3. It can be combined with multiple sports facilities within the gym (such as gyms or basketball courts).
  4. Reduces slips and injuries with the right rubberized floor.
• Track defects:
  1. Not all athletics competitions can be held inside, such as some long throw competitions.
  2. Limited in terms of the number of lanes and area.
  3. An indoor arena costs more to build than an outdoor track.
• Examples of its uses:
  1. Winter Athletics Championships.
  2. Professional clubs train in cold countries.
  3. Educational and university sports centers.

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Steps to create a tartan track or athletics track

Implementing an athletics track requires careful planning and specialized techniques to ensure quality performance and athlete safety. Here are the essential steps:

1 Technical Study and Initial Planning

This stage is one of the most important stages in the implementation of any athletics track, during which the requirements are analyzed and the engineering and technical basis of the project is laid to ensure its efficient and high-quality implementation.

• Choosing the right location
  1.  meters in length) and all auxiliary areas such as throwing and vaulting.400The ground must be wide enough to accommodate the track (
  2. Preferably, the ground should be level or easily leveled.
  3. Take into account the proximity of the site to residential communities or educational institutions for easy access.
• Soil study and topography
  1. Conduct soil tests to determine its weight-bearing capacity and ensure its suitability for construction.
  2. Check the groundwater level to avoid any future issues.
  3. Using topographic surveying to determine natural land slopes and plan drainage networks.
• Developing an engineering master plan
  1. Draw the complete architectural and engineering design of the track, specifying:
  2. Number of lanes.
  3. Jumping and throwing areas.
  4. Support facilities (locker rooms, warehouses, bleachers, etc.)
  5. Consider the natural directions of the wind and sun in the distribution of ingredients.
• Selecting the type of sports floor
  1. Choose the floor according to budget and usage:
  2. Tartan: Best for formal competitions.
  3. Acrylic flooring: A good economical option.
  4. Synthetic rubber: Flexible and suitable for training and schools.
  5. Determine the thickness of the floor and the number of layers required.
• Preparing specifications and blueprints
  1. Preparing technical conditions and specifications for contractors.
  2. Determine the exact specifications of all materials used in the project.
  3. Prepare the implementation schedule and work plan.
• Licenses and permits
  1. Obtaining approvals from the competent authorities (municipality, Ministry of Sports or Education, depending on the owner).
  2. Providing engineering drawings and technical specifications to the concerned authorities.

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. Excavation and leveling2

After completing the technical studies and planning, the actual implementation phase begins on the ground, the first of which is the excavation and leveling work, which is an essential stage aimed at preparing the ground to receive the construction and sports layers of the track.

• Cleaning the site
  1. ) which is often unstable or full of impurities. Top SoilRemoving the top layer of soil (
  2. Remove rocks, plants, roots, and obstructions below the surface.
  3. Off-site transportation of waste according to environmental requirements.
• Drilling to geometric proportions
  1. The ground is excavated according to topographic plans to provide the necessary depth for backfill and concrete or asphalt layers.
  2. Consider the appropriate gradient for water drainage.
  3. Modern lasers or levelers are used to ensure accurate proportions.
• Backfilling and compaction
  1. After excavation, the ground is backfilled with successive layers of soil, earth, or clean sand.
  2. ) Compactors Each layer is thoroughly compacted using heavy rollers (
  3. ) Each layer is tested by engineering means such as the Proctor Test (
• Adjusting tilts for drainage
  1. to ensure that rainwater drains away from the track.1 At this stage, a very slight slope (
  2. The direction of the slopes is determined by design (either towards the edges or towards specific drainage channels).
• Basic infrastructure work (if required)
  In some projects, it may be implemented:
  1. Sewer or storm water drainage extensions.
  2. Electrical wiring or pipes to feed lighting, cameras, or sound systems.
  3. Install underground drainage pipes under the track to prevent water from pooling under the floor.
• Final settlement
  1. Precise surface leveling is performed using grinding or motorized leveling equipment.
  2. The slope and gradient are checked using specialized measuring devices.
  3. The finished surface should be smooth, firm, and ready to receive the sports flooring.

. Creating a concrete or asphalt base3

This stage is the foundation upon which the athletics track is built, and must be carried out with precision to ensure the stability of the track, the safety of runners, and the longevity of the track.

• Selecting the appropriate base type
  The type of base is chosen according to the type of sports floor on which it will be carried out:
  1. Concrete base:
     Often used if the finished floor is acrylic or in projects that require high durability and lasting stability.
  2. Asphalt base:
     It is preferred in the case of rubber flooring such as tartan, as it provides an elastic and homogeneous surface that allows for shock absorption and better performance.
• Surface preparation before casting
  1. Ensure that the previous layers of backfilling and compaction are done perfectly.
  2. Spray a light layer of water to stabilize and prevent dust.
  3. Implement a metal reinforcing mesh (in the case of concrete) if necessary.
• Implementation of the base layer
  1. In the case of a concrete base:
     •  cm.15 to 10 poured reinforced or plain concrete with a thickness of
     • Use proper structural joints to avoid cracks caused by expansion and contraction.
     • ) for a perfectly flat surface. Laser ScreedSurface leveling using automated leveling boards (
  2. In the case of an asphalt base:
     •  A hot mix asphalt layer with a thickness of 10 to 5 cm is applied according to the design.
     • ) to ensure its complete fusion. C°180-160Heat the material to a suitable temperature (about
     • ) Then roll it out using heavy roller rollers. Paver the asphalt using a spreader (
• Fine-tuning Tendencies
  1. During pouring or brushing, the slope of the base surface shall be adjusted by no more than
  2. Tendencies should be mild and unnoticeable so as not to affect the athletes’ performance.
• Processing the rule after execution
  1. ) In the case of concrete, Curing Compounds are sprayed with water: Water is sprayed or curing agents (
  2. In the case of asphalt: Allow it to cool and stabilize completely before starting the installation.
• Quality tests
  1. Check the flatness of the surface using lasers or a long geometric ruler.
  2. Test the bearing strength of the base (in the case of concrete) using Schmidt’s hammer or cylindrical core tests.
  3. Check that the surface is smooth and free of any imperfections that will affect the finished floor.

. Sports flooring installation4

Once the concrete or asphalt base has been prepared, the installation of the final flooring that gives the track its performance characteristics, such as absorbency, slip resistance, and durability, begins.

• Choosing the right type of flooring
  The type of flooring is chosen according to the purpose of the track (training, official competitions, schools, etc.) and is a common type:
  1. ):Tartan floor (
     Known for its shock absorption and EPDM resistance, SPR is the most commonly used in international tournaments, consisting of two layers (rubber base and weathering.
  2. Acrylic floor:
     Commonly used in school playgrounds and community centers, it is economical and easy to maintain, but less flexible than tartan.
  3. ):EPDM or PURubber flooring (
     It offers high elasticity and is sometimes used as an alternative to tartan.
• Surface preparation before installation
  1. Thoroughly clean the surface from dust, oil, and any debris.
  2. Address any cracks or voids in the base to ensure the ground is level.
  3. ) to increase the adhesion of subsequent layers to the base.PrimerApply a base coat (
• Tartan Asprey Layers Synthesis:
  1. (Binder) with a binder (SBR) implemented using a mixture of rubber granules (
  2.  mm using a planer. 15 to 10 mm thickness is rolled out with a thickness of
  3.  hours.48-24 Allow to dry completely for
  4.  Asprey in the desired colorEPDM The surface layer is made of rubber granules
• Allow the floor to dry
  Hour.72 to 48The tartan floor leaves the track for a period of

. Marking lanes and lines on the athletics track5

After the installation of the sports floor has been completed and completely dried, another stage in the construction of the athletics track is the planning of lanes and distances, which is a very delicate step because it affects the legality of the races and their official results:

• International standards for lane planning
  1. ):World Athletics According to the International Association of Athletics Federations (
  2.  cm from the inside edge of the first lane).30 meters (measured at 400 lengths of the official track:
  3.  lanes.9 to 6 lanes: Often from
  4.  m.0.01 cm) with a tolerance of ±122 meters (1.22 lane widths:
  5. The shape of the track: oval, consisting of two straight lines and two semi-circular curves
• Steps to implement planning
  1. Processing and measuring
     • Use laser measuring devices or an accurate tape measure to ensure the dimensions are correct.
     • Set reference points on the floor from which to start drawing the lanes.
  2. Drawing lanes
     • Each lane is painted with clear white lines using special weather-resistant paints.
     • Molds or layout machines are used to ensure accurate display and even spacing.
  3. Define start and end points
     • The starting point for each lane in curved races varies to compensate for the difference in distance caused by the curve.
     • 400m, 200m, 100m, etc.). start and finish marks are drawn according to each race type (
  4. Drawing private areas
     • ) In relay races.Exchange Zones relay zone markers (
     • Curved or straight starting line markings depending on the type of race.
  5. Divide the jump or throw zones, if any, on the track.
• Planning materials and tools
  1. Weather-resistant acrylic or polyurethane paints.
  2. ) to ensure consistency. Line Marking Machines
  3. ).Total StationPrecision measuring instruments (e.g. steel tape, laser,

. Quality Control and Testing for Athletics Track6

Quality control and testing are crucial steps after the completion of the athletics track construction, to ensure that the track meets all the required technical specifications and safety standards. Here are the most important aspects of this phase:

• Inspection
  A thorough visual and engineering inspection of the entire track is performed to ensure the following:
  1. Surface flatness: Surface flatness is vital to athlete performance and safety. Specialized measuring tools are used to verify that the surface is free of any slopes or elevations other than mm).3 expected to exceed tolerances (usually no more than ±
  2. Effectiveness of the drainage system: Ensure that the underground drainage system and the surface slope of the track effectively drain rainwater away from the surface quickly, to prevent the formation of puddles that may affect performance or cause surface degradation. Splash tests can be performed to confirm the efficiency of the drainage.
  3. Material quality: The quality of the materials used in the different layers (foundation, shock absorption layer, top surface) is checked to ensure that they conform to the technical specifications specified in the design, and are free from defects, cracks, or corrosion.
  4. Quality of lane layout: The accuracy of the layout of lane lines, start and finish lines, badge exchange areas, and other markings is checked according to international specifications (e.g. IAAF standards). Lines must be clear and uniform in width.
• Technical Testing
  In addition to the visual inspection, a range of specialized technical tests are conducted to assess the track’s performance, including:
  1. ): This test measures the ability of the track surface to absorb the shock caused by the athletes’ footsteps. This property is very important to minimize the stress on athletes’ joints and muscles and reduce the risk of injuries. Special devices are used to measure the percentage of shock absorption.
  2. ): This test determines how much “grip” the track surface provides for athletic shoes. There must be a sufficient level of friction to enable athletes to run and move confidently without slipping, but not so much as to hinder their movement.
  3. Accurate measurements between lanes: All measurements between lanes, radius of curves, and total lane distances are strictly checked to ensure the fairness of the competition and the validity of the records set.
  4. Resistance to corrosion and weathering: Although this may take longer to fully evaluate, preliminary tests can assess the quality of the installation and materials to ensure they are resistant to corrosion from use and various weathering factors such as UV rays and temperature changes.