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Why Do Almost Everyone Prefer Running Counterclockwise on Tracks?
Can We Run Clockwise?
If you’ve ever taken the time to observe people running in parks or on tracks, you’ll notice a fascinating phenomenon: almost everyone runs counterclockwise. This trend is not only prevalent domestically but also in international athletics competitions, where participants universally run in a counterclockwise direction. This naturally sparks curiosity: why has running counterclockwise become the mainstream? Is there something wrong with running clockwise?
This article discusses why running counterclockwise is so popular.
1. IAAF Regulations
In fact, the preference for counterclockwise running was established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1912. In the 19th century, athletics competitions featured both clockwise and counterclockwise running, with the 1896 Athens Olympics and the 1900 Paris Olympics conducted clockwise. After adopting the counterclockwise direction in the 1908 Olympics, the IAAF officially declared counterclockwise running as the rule in 1912, a standard that has been maintained to this day.
