Rising to the surface: advanced urethane for running tracks.

While advances in nutrition, training, equipment, and coaching have all contributed to record-breaking performances over the past several decades, a relatively new influence has had a marked effect on record timings in track and field.

Synthetic surfaces were first used on running tracks over 40 years ago, but few really significant improvements have been made since then. In fact, the technology had pretty much vanished until the recent advancement in urethane technology.

At the highest levels of performance where fractions of a second separate the gold medalists from the also-rans, success isn't just measured in fractions of a second, but in the consistency and quality of training. That is why the choice of surface can be such a critical decision.

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Allow us to quote Tom Heinonen, women's track coach at the U. of Oregon:

"When Oregon decided to evaluate its legendary Hayward Field in 2000, we understood that since the field had been open to the public 24 hours a day since 1987 and was subject to the outdoor weather, the resurfacing material would have to be durable enough to handle the expected wear and tear without compromising its performance characteristics.

"The longer the race, the more punishing the track surface is on the athlete," says Steve McBride, a project manager for Hayward Field. "In a sprint, it might be fine to have a hard surface that returns all the energy back to the athletes quickly so they can move to the next step, but in distance races, you need a surface that is more forgiving.

"The trick lies in finding a material and design that works for everybody, even in-field runways where acceleration and stopping are important. From the athletes' point of view, you need top performance without unnecessary injury. From the maintenance point of view, you need the surface to last as long as possible at an acceptable price point."

For high-profile track performance combined with the ability to train on a durable surface, Oregon turned to Athletic Polymer Systems (APS), the industry's leading innovator of athletic surfaces. Since acquiring the Tartan brand surface and patents from the Dickey Co. in the 1980s, APS has pumped significant technological life into improved high-tech running track surfaces.

"The average track coach will put in one, maybe two track surfaces in a career," says Dr. Thomas Garrett, the President of APS, who also directs the company's R & D programs. "While the technical and design details can be complex and require a consultant, the basics are simple. For a top performance surface that's good to train on, you need energy return on the time scale of a footfall. The surface should match the athlete's natural harmonic rhythm to maximize energy return and provide as much give as possible to cushion impact."

"If the track surface's 'relaxation' time--or time it takes to reorient itself on impact--is too fast, it'll seem jarring to the athlete," continues Garrett. "If it's too slow, it'll feel energy absorbing, like running in sand. A good track will strike the balance between dynamic response for performance and cushioning for training."

Urethane, which is used in full-pour resurfacing, rebounds on the right time scale--that of a footfall--to offer both competitive performance and cushioning appropriate for training.

Full-pour urethane used for resurfacing is a self-leveling material that will fill in any existing cracks, dips, or grooves. It will additionally provide better performance with each subsequent resurfacing, since each layer adds to the layers beneath--unlike sheet goods, structural sprays, or other materials that must be torn out before refurbishing the track surface.

A number of records have been set on the new APS track at Hayward Field. According to USA Track & Field, the outdoor records set in 2001 include: the collegiate and American records for Women's 3000-meter Steeple Chase at 9:49.73 and then 9:49.41, the American Junior 100-meter sprint at 10.08, the high school mile at 3:53, and four 100-meter dash times under 10.00 flat.

"Hayward Field's current surface lets us run fast without beating up our athletes," adds Tom Heinonen. "That's what every coach wants--a fast surface for meets that's good for training, too. It's a great track."

Unlike rubber surfaces, which shrink and harden, APS's patented Tartan polyurethane remains unaffected by hot or cold temperatures and won't retain water. Its mercury-free formula increases tensile and tear strength while increasing rebound resilience for athletes.

Susquehanna University, a Div. III school in Selinsgrove, PA, recently installed a six-lane 200-meter indoor track using APS materials.

"Eighteen Middle Atlantic Conference records were set on the surface in the first MAC meet held at the facility," says Jim Taylor, men's track coach, whose Susquehanna teams have won 10 conference outdoor titles in his 24 years. "The facility enhanced all the athletes' times, whether they won or finished fifth. There was such a great improvement in time that it had to be caused by the facility and the surface they were running on.

"Some of the sprinters like harder surfaces, and some of the distance runners like softer surfaces, but we couldn't have one lane soft and the other hard. We had to put down one surface that was beneficial to everyone. Now, there's nothing comparable to our 200-meter indoor track in the conference."

BY DEL WILLIAMS

Torrance, CA