Modern sports facilities are characterized by high-tech equipment. When constructing stadiums, first of all, attention is paid to the compliance of the sizes, markings and coverage of treadmills with IAAF (International Athletics Federation) standards . The results of athletes directly depend on them.
Treadmill
Facilities for outdoor sports, as a rule, are universal. Usually a football field is arranged in the center. It is surrounded by stands, treadmills. There are fields designed exclusively for athletics. Then in the center are specially marked areas for throwing a disk, a hammer, a spear, long jumps, heights, with a pole.
With the construction of such objects in the first place goes coverage of the treadmills of stadiums. In fact, the latter are a separate sports facility. It is intended for training and running competitions (including hurdles) and walking. The tracks are equipped on a flat horizontal surface, the edge is framed by bumpers. They are rounded at the top, their height does not exceed 3 cm.
Treadmill coverings should have high wear resistance, good cushioning properties, have a smooth surface without joints, ensure effective adhesion to athletes' shoes, and not change their properties even after strong moisture (rain). A treadmill consists of 4-9 individual lanes. The standard width is 122 cm, this also includes 5 cm markings. The minimum length in a straight line is 400 meters.
A bit of history
At the end of the 19th century, the surface of sports tracks at the Olympic Games was a mixture of sand and clay. In rainy weather, the stability of their support was unsatisfactory. In 1903, asphalt pavement was developed . It withstood adverse weather, but because of its hardness did not find wide application.
A year later, at the Olympics in the stadium of the city of St. Louis (USA), a heating track was tested. The porous material made it possible to conduct competitions with small precipitation, quickly absorbing moisture. A clear advantage was elasticity and good grip on athletes' shoes. The heating coating has been used for many decades. There are lines about it in V. Vysotsky’s song “Marathon”: “I run, run, trample, sliding along the burner track”.
With high humidity, the heating surface became unusable, in addition, considerable efforts and financial costs for maintenance and repair were required. Other treadmill cover options were developed. In 1912, a stone-wood mixture appeared, water-resistant, softer compared to asphalt, but short-lived. Later, the English company "Rubber" proposed sheet rubber with water holes. It was a real breakthrough. One after another, more modern coatings based on latex or bitumen began to appear. They tied cork, sand, crumb rubber and other materials.
Kinds
Surfaces can vary significantly. They are conditionally divided into the following groups:
- professional;
- semi-professional;
- for mass sports.
The first two groups of structures usually have a rubber or synthetic treadmill coating. The main difference is in quality, number of layers and their filling, styling method, color scheme. Professional must have an IAAF certificate and withstand the load when using studded shoes.
In public places for lovers of an active lifestyle for treadmills use:
- Cinder or coke oven coatings. They are permeable, require regular care.
- Asphalt or asphalt-rubber - durable, tough enough, do not pass water, do not require additional care.
Both options do not differ in elasticity, with prolonged classes can lead to injuries. Today, architects lay in their projects modern, safer coatings for human health.
Rubber cover
The most popular rubber coating treadmills. The amount of glue, the size of the chips, the mixing proportions are the characteristics according to which the coatings are divided into two types:
- moisture permeable;
- not passing water.
They are classified by the number of layers:
Of the advantages, the following can be distinguished:
- convenience and comfort for athletes;
- excellent operational characteristics;
- choice of the desired color;
- injury safety;
- environmental friendliness;
- excellent sound insulation;
- attractive appearance;
- easy care;
- the ability to restore the surface in case of damage;
- universality of use.
Styling options
Any coating is laid on the prepared site. Soil should have the most even surface. The track itself is a kind of design consisting of several layers:
- natural basis;
- a layer of gravel;
- concrete or asphalt;
- glue;
- shock absorbing lining;
- finish layer.
The top layer is mounted in several ways:
- It can be bulk - all components are mixed directly at the installation site.
- By laying mats, usually 120 x 100 cm;
- Rolls.
The world's leading manufacturers of modern treadmill coatings use environmentally friendly and high-quality materials. They must meet the following requirements:
- Possess increased wear resistance, withstand long-term load under studded shoes, adverse climatic conditions.
- Be safe, have an optimal coefficient of stiffness and elasticity.
- Be comfortable and reliable, provide good grip on the surface of athletes' shoes, even in rainy weather.
- Do not fade in the sun, have an attractive appearance. Today, manufacturers offer a variety of colors.
- Do not let water through.
- Do not require special care.
- Meet IAAF standards.