Tracks were once 440 yards (¼ mile) per lap. Today, the standard is 400m. Here’s why the change happened, the difference, and what it means for races.

Women compete in the heptathlon, not the decathlon, due to history and tradition. Here’s why, plus the case for a women’s decathlon in track & field.

Multi-events are scored using formulas that turn times and distances into points. Here’s how decathlon and heptathlon scoring works.

The decathlon has 10 events, the heptathlon 7. Here’s the full breakdown of events, days, and key differences between the two.

Some relays run entirely in lanes, others break to the inside. Here’s why — from safety in the 4x100 to efficiency in the 4x400 and beyond.

Dropping the baton isn’t always the end. If it’s inside the exchange zone, a team can recover — but outside the zone means disqualification.

Relay races require baton handoffs inside 30m exchange zones. Here’s why they exist, how they work, and what happens if rules are broken.

Handheld timing adds human error. FAT ensures accuracy for records. Here’s the difference between handheld and fully automatic timing in track & field.

The starting gun ensures fairness and timing accuracy in track & field. Here’s how it works, why it matters, and how technology has changed it.

Pacemakers, or ‘rabbits,’ set the tempo in track races to help athletes run fast times. Here’s why they’re used, how they work, and when they’re banned.

The recall gun is used to stop a track race after a false start or error. Here’s how it works, when it’s used, and why it’s important.

Men’s sprint hurdles are 42 inches, women’s 33 inches. Here’s why hurdle heights differ and the debate about whether they should change.

The 1500m replaced the mile in championships for metric standardization and track design. Here’s why it stuck — and why the mile still lives on.

Distance runners start in a waterfall to equalize distance and fit large fields. Here’s how the curved start and break line work in track & field.

Hurdle spacing isn’t random — it’s set for stride rhythm and safety. Here’s why hurdles are placed the way they are in track & field.

Track lanes are measured 20 cm from the inside line. Here’s how lane distances differ and why staggered starts make races fair.

Relay batons are hollow for lightness, balance, and safety. Here’s why the rules require it — and how it affects performance.

Athletes wear tape for support and pain relief. Here’s why you see colorful strips on hamstrings, quads, and calves in track & field.

DNS = Did Not Start, DNF = Did Not Finish, DQ = Disqualified. Here’s what those track & field result abbreviations mean.

Starting blocks help sprinters explode out of the blocks with max power. Here’s why they’re required in sprints and how they work.