There are basically three surfaces we race horses on in the U.S. But I doubt I've spent a dozen days at racetracks that had synthetic surfaces and always wondered what they were made of. Grass races are my favorite contests and I love when they run on the dirt too. But after years of watching races from tracks around the nation, I realized I knew very little about track surfaces. Chang of the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, in the year 1999, shows that the levels of VOCs emitted from the tracks are not more than the levels of VOCs already existing in the environment.I've always paid attention to track conditions and I've had some great success wagering in N.Y.
![running track asphalt texture running track asphalt texture](https://www.crushpixel.com/big-static14/preview4/running-track-1589617.jpg)
People have raised concerns over the inhalation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the running tracks that contain crumbled rubber.
![running track asphalt texture running track asphalt texture](https://previews.123rf.com/images/sutichak/sutichak1306/sutichak130600363/20535041-running-track-rubber-cover-texture-for-background.jpg)
![running track asphalt texture running track asphalt texture](https://image.freepik.com/free-photo/running-track-texture_113873-491.jpg)
Watering the track is one way to decrease the temperature on warm days, but it doesn’t prove to be much helpful, because within a while, the temperature rises again.Īlong with all the above points, there have been talks about the effect of rubber tracks on the environment as well as the well-being of the runner. This increased temperature can cause discomfort to the runners by causing heat stress and dehydration.
RUNNING TRACK ASPHALT TEXTURE SKIN
Runners may be exposed to latex allergens through direct contact with the skin while running on the track, or through inhalation of rubber particles released in the air.įurthermore, rubber or synthetic tracks tend to absorb heat, which results in a higher surface temperature than the ambient temperature. Health ConcernsĪround 6% people experience allergic reactions after coming in contact with latex, a substance found in natural rubber. Therefore, considering the long-term validity of a rubber track, the money spent in buying and installation should not affect your budget greatly, because in the long run, the synthetic or rubber track will prove to be more cost-effective. However, understand that, though these conventional track surfaces have low initial cost, they require considerable maintenance throughout their life. Considering the initial cost, one may feel tempted to stick to the traditional cinder or grass track, which may be comparatively inexpensive. The biggest drawback of a rubber running track may be its cost. If latex and polyurethane is used as a binder instead of asphalt, the track can withstand any extreme weather conditions easily. This change in the track surface can have adverse effects on the comfort level as well overall performance of the runner. While it becomes harder during the cold weather, during summers it turns softer. One of the major disadvantages of the rubber running track, especially the one that includes asphalt in its binding is that it gets affected by temperature, in spite of rubber being used. So much so for the material and process of manufacturing a running track, now let us try to weigh its pros and cons. On the other hand, colored rubber is usually made of virgin EPDM, and is available only in granular form. The rubber that is used in these tracks is black or colored, may be granulated or stranded, and can be made of natural rubber, tyrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), virgin or recycled. Normally, the mixture is poured on the location where the track is to be laid, but Mondo claims that making the track in the factory and unrolling it at the site, in the form of strips, can make a better quality track. On top of this base, a mixture of granulated rubber and an artificial binder, such as latex or polyurethane, is poured. But before the track is laid out, a firm foundation of asphalt or concrete is constructed as a base, to prevent the track from sinking into the ground. The manufacturing process involves the use granulated rubber and latex or polyurethane binders in combination. The three major materials used to manufacture of the latest running tracks are latex, polyurethane, and vulcanized rubber.
![running track asphalt texture running track asphalt texture](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/texture-rubber-crumb-rubber-asphalt-used-stadiums-running-track-red-background-91821761.jpg)
The Rio Olympic Stadium, the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, also has a ‘Mondotrack’. The ‘Mondotrack’ has been the surface of choice of the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. This SportsAspire article helps you to weigh the pros and cons of the latest rubber running tracks, and whether they are apt for athletes and joggers. From tracks made of grass, cinder, and sand, to the latest ones made of polyurethane and latex material running tracks have evolved over time.