How many laps around a track is a mile?
A mile is just over 4 laps of a standard 400m track. A mile is 1,609.344 metres, so it is 4 laps (1,600m) plus 9.34 metres; mile races start 9.34 metres behind the finish line.
| Distance | Laps | Metres |
|---|---|---|
| 400m | 1 | 400 |
| 800m | 2 | 800 |
| 1500m | 3¾ | 1,500 |
| 1600m | 4 | 1,600 |
| Mile | 4 and 9.34m | 1,609.34 |
| 3000m | 7½ | 3,000 |
| 3200m | 8 | 3,200 |
| 5000m (5K) | 12½ | 5,000 |
| 10,000m (10K) | 25 | 10,000 |
1600m or the mile?
US high schools mostly race 1600m, exactly 4 laps, and the mile proper is the 1,609m race. The two times differ by 1.5 to 2 seconds for a five-minute runner: the mile is 0.58% longer.
Which lane
A lap is 400m only in lane 1, measured 30 cm in from the inner kerb. Run the whole way in lane 2 and each lap is about 7 metres longer, which is why races that stay in lanes use a staggered start.
Sources: World Athletics Book of Rules: Competition and Technical Rules. Updated 2026-10-31.