Run fast and turn left: Track etiquette everyone needs to know
December 21, 2025
With cross country and the fall marathon season behind us, the track is about to take the spotlight. From indoor seasons, to snowy sessions to avoid icy roads, to the growing number of track-focused run groups, many runners are about to spend time with the rubber oval.
I think the track is a great gateway into running. Runners of all paces get to stay within a small area, boosting the running community and comradery in workouts. Runs can be as short and fast or as long and controlled as you’d like. However, while I admittedly haven’t been at the track in a while (I needed a hiatus after a decade of running in circles), I’ve heard through the grapevine that tracks are more popular, and thus crowded, than ever. More popularity means more new folks, which is great — assuming they learn track etiquette. If not, it’s chaotic, or can even be dangerous.
I don’t blame new runners for not knowing track etiquette right off the bat. You don’t know what you don’t know. However, if you’re sharing the track with others, it’s important for everyone to get up to speed with track etiquette.
In case no one has told you yet, here’s the big three track rules. Knowing them might just keep you out of a trackside brawl.
1. Run Counterclockwise
Run fast and turn left.
Almost always, run counterclockwise. This is the standard everywhere and your best bet for avoiding collisions.
The only time this rule might not apply is during warmups, recovery breaks, or cooldowns. Sometimes runners will jog clockwise during these to balance out the legs from all the left curves. Check with your track or coach if this is allowed before you do this. If you get the okay, only do it in the outer lanes and be sure to watch out for other runners.
2. Be mindful of where you run
The track is a limited space, so be aware of others. When there are a lot of folks on the track, such as during a group practice, coaches or leaders will usually designate what workout group is using which lanes.
If they don’t, the rule of thumb is for faster workout groups to run in the inner lanes (1-3). Pass on the right as needed.
If there’s a group doing something super short like 100-meter repeats, they could potentially run in the straightaway of outer lanes, but they should see if folks are warming up in that stretch first. Similarly, folks planning to jog in outer lanes should keep an eye out for sprint workouts.
No matter what, watch for others, and don’t stretch your group across all of the lanes.
3. If you hear “TRACK,” “MOVE,” or something similar, get the fuck out of the way
Any sort of yell likely means someone is barreling down the lane right at you. Trust me, you do not want to get in their way. If they give you a warning, it’s fair game for them to run you over if you don’t respond and move, in my opinion.
If you hear the call, simply jump off the track whichever way gets you off faster, whether that’s onto the infield or outside the outer lanes.
In a similar vein, never stand around on the track, especially in the inner lanes. Sit, stretch, and I guess set up your cameras, you influencers, in the infield or outside the track.
Also, start your interval quickly once you step back onto the track during a workout. When you are ending an interval, get off the track quickly to recover in the infield. This helps keep the track clear for folks doing longer intervals.
Follow these rules, you’re off to a great start for avoiding collisions and helping everyone have safe, fast workouts. Of course, there’s specific rules for every track and group, so talk to whoever is in charge or keep an eye out for a sign listing the rules at your local track.
And when in doubt, run fast and turn left.