Why do runners in outer lanes start further ahead?

看(kàn)室外(shì wài)400米(mǐ)比赛(bǐ sài)时(shí)，你(nǐ)会(huì)发现(fā xiàn)选手(xuǎn shǒu)并(bìng)没有(méi yǒu)站(zhàn)在(zài)同(tóng)一(yī)条(tiáo)横线(héng xiàn)上(shàng)。

When watching an outdoor 400-metre race, you will notice that the runners do not line up in a single row.

越(yuè)靠(kào)外面(wài miàn)的(de)跑道(pǎo dào)，起点(qǐ diǎn)看起来(kàn qǐ lái)越(yuè)靠前(kào qián)。

The further out the lane, the further ahead its starting point appears.

这(zhè)不(bù)是(shì)在(zài)给(gěi)外道(wài dào)选手(xuǎn shǒu)多(duō)一(yī)点(diǎn)机会(jī huì)，而(ér)是(shì)在(zài)调整(tiáo zhěng)大家(dà jiā)要(yào)跑(pǎo)的(de)距离(jù lí)。

This is not intended to give outer-lane runners an advantage; it adjusts the distance each person has to run.

在(zài)弯道(wān dào)上(shang)，外侧(wài cè)的(de)路(lù)比(bǐ)内侧(nèi cè)更(gèng)长(cháng)。

On a bend, the outer path is longer than the inner one.

如果(rú guǒ)所有人(suǒ yǒu rén)从(cóng)同一条(tóng yī tiáo)横线(héng xiàn)出发(chū fā)，再(zài)沿着(yán zhe)各自(gè zì)的(de)跑道(pǎo dào)跑(pǎo)一圈(yī quān)，外道(wài dào)选手(xuǎn shǒu)就(jiù)要(yào)多(duō)跑(pǎo)一段(yī duàn)。

If everyone started from the same line and ran a lap in their own lane, the outer-lane runners would have to cover an extra distance.

因此(yīn cǐ)，外道(wài dào)的(de)起点(qǐ diǎn)要(yào)往前(wǎng qián)移(yí)，把(bǎ)多(duō)出来(chū lái)的(de)距离(jù lí)减掉(jiǎn diào)。

The outer starting points therefore need to move forward to remove that extra distance.

起点(qǐ diǎn)虽然(suī rán)不同(bù tóng)，每(měi)个(gè)人(rén)到(dào)终点(zhōng diǎn)要(yào)跑(pǎo)的(de)距离(jù lí)却(què)相同(xiāng tóng)。

Although the starting points differ, each runner has the same distance to cover to the finish.

所以(suǒ yǐ)，比赛(bǐ sài)刚(gāng)开始(kāi shǐ)时(shí)，不能(bù néng)只(zhǐ)看(kàn)谁(shuí)的(de)位置(wèi zhì)更(gèng)靠前(kào qián)，就(jiù)判断(pàn duàn)谁(shuí)跑(pǎo)得(de)更(gèng)快(kuài)。

So at the start of the race, you cannot judge who is running faster simply by seeing whose position is further ahead.

外道(wài dào)选手(xuǎn shǒu)可能(kě néng)本来(běn lái)就(jiù)从(cóng)更前面(gèng qián miàn)出发(chū fā)。

The outer-lane runner may simply have started further ahead.

看懂(kàn dǒng)这些(zhè xiē)错开(cuò kāi)的(de)起点(qǐ diǎn)，也(yě)就(jiù)看懂(kàn dǒng)了(le)跑道(pǎo dào)上(shàng)的(de)一(yī)个(gè)小(xiǎo)设计(shè jì)。

Understanding these staggered starts reveals a small feature of track design.