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How Many Times Around A Football Field Is A Mile Explained
A mile is equal to approximately 17.6 laps around a standard American football field’s playing area. This calculation assumes you are running along the sidelines, from one end zone to the other and back again.
For many athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the question of how many times around a football field is a mile is a common one. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting a fitness journey, knowing this conversion can be incredibly helpful for structuring workouts and tracking progress. Let’s dive deep into the football field measurement and break down the football field to mile conversion.
Deciphering the Football Field Measurement
An American football field has a very specific and standardized layout. This standardization is crucial for the sport itself and also makes it a reliable landmark for fitness activities. The primary components of an American football field are:
- The playing field: This is the rectangular area where the game is played.
- End zones: These are at each end of the playing field.
- Yard lines: These markings run across the field every 5 yards.
- Yard markers: These indicate the yard line number.
- Hash marks: These are short lines perpendicular to the sidelines.
When we talk about the distance around a football field, we are typically referring to the perimeter of the playing field itself, often including the end zones. It’s important to clarify what we mean by “around” when performing running laps football field.
The Length of a Football Field
The official football field length of the playing area, from goal line to goal line, is 100 yards. However, this isn’t the complete picture when considering a lap.
- Goal Line to Goal Line: 100 yards
- End Zones: Each end zone is 10 yards deep. This means there are two end zones, adding an extra 20 yards to the total length of the playing surface.
Therefore, the total length from the back of one end zone to the back of the other end zone is 100 yards (playing field) + 10 yards (one end zone) + 10 yards (other end zone) = 120 yards.
The Width of a Football Field
The width of an American football field is also standardized. The sidelines run the length of the field, and the width is measured between these sidelines.
- Sideline to Sideline: 53.33 yards (or 160 feet).
Calculating the Football Field Perimeter
Now that we have the dimensions, we can calculate the football field perimeter or the distance around football field. A lap typically involves running along the sidelines from one end of the field to the other, and then back again. This covers the length and the width twice.
Let’s consider the most common way people run laps: along the very edge, typically the sidelines.
- Length of one side (including one end zone): 100 yards (playing field) + 10 yards (end zone) = 110 yards. If we are talking about the entire playing surface from the back of one end zone to the back of the other, it’s 120 yards.
- Width: 53.33 yards.
A single “lap” around the football field perimeter would therefore be:
(Length + Width) x 2
If we consider the length from goal line to goal line (100 yards) and run outside the end zones along the sidelines, the calculation is:
Perimeter = 2 * (100 yards + 53.33 yards) = 2 * 153.33 yards = 306.66 yards.
However, most people running laps on a football field do so with the intention of covering the entire playing surface and end zones. This means a lap encompasses the full 120-yard length (back of end zone to back of end zone) twice, and the 53.33-yard width twice.
So, a more accurate calculation for a lap that covers the whole playing area is:
Perimeter = 2 * (120 yards + 53.33 yards) = 2 * 173.33 yards = 346.66 yards.
This 346.66 yards is the distance around the football field, encompassing the entire playing area and end zones. This is the figure we will use for our football field to mile conversion.
The Mile and Its Conversion
A mile is a unit of distance in the imperial and U.S. customary systems.
- 1 mile = 1760 yards
Now, we can determine how many times around a football field is a mile. We need to divide the total distance of a mile in yards by the distance of one lap around the football field.
Using the perimeter of 346.66 yards:
Number of laps = Total distance in yards / Distance per lap in yards
Number of laps = 1760 yards / 346.66 yards per lap
Number of laps ≈ 5.077 laps
This means that to cover exactly one mile, you would need to complete just over 5 laps around the football field, including the end zones.
Refining the Lap Calculation: Running the Sidelines
Often, when people ask about running laps on a football field, they are thinking about running from one end line to the other and back along the sidelines. In this scenario, they might not run the full 120 yards from the very back of the end zones.
Let’s consider running from one goal line to the other goal line and back again, sticking to the sidelines.
- Distance from goal line to goal line: 100 yards.
- Width of the field: 53.33 yards.
In this case, a lap would be:
Perimeter = 2 * (100 yards + 53.33 yards) = 2 * 153.33 yards = 306.66 yards.
Now, let’s convert this to miles:
Number of laps = 1760 yards / 306.66 yards per lap
Number of laps ≈ 5.74 laps
This calculation is for running the length of the playing field (100 yards) and the width (53.33 yards) twice. This is a common way to interpret “running around the field” in a track-and-field sense, ignoring the end zones.
The Most Common and Practical “Lap”
However, the most common interpretation for runners using a football field for training often involves running the full length of the playable area, including the end zones, from one goal line to the other, and then back again. This means covering the 100 yards of the playing field plus the 10-yard end zones on each side.
So, the distance covered in one “run down” and “run back” along the sidelines, from the back of one end zone to the back of the other end zone and then returning, is:
Distance = 120 yards (one way) + 120 yards (return) = 240 yards.
Now, let’s do the football field to mile conversion using this 240-yard distance per lap:
Number of laps = 1760 yards / 240 yards per lap
Number of laps = 7.33 laps
This means you’d need to run approximately 7.33 laps of this “end zone to end zone” length to complete a mile.
The “Outer” Perimeter Interpretation
Sometimes, people might refer to running around the absolute outer edge of the entire structure, which can include the track if one surrounds the field. However, for a standard standalone football field, the most practical interpretation for runners is often related to the playing surface itself.
Let’s stick with the most common interpretation of running the full length of the field, including the end zones, from goal line to goal line and back. This is often what people mean when they say “running laps on a football field.”
Distance of one “full length” lap: 100 yards (field) + 10 yards (end zone) + 10 yards (end zone) = 120 yards.
If a “lap” means going down and back, that’s 120 yards + 120 yards = 240 yards.
So, to answer the question: How many times around a football field is a mile?
It takes approximately 7.33 laps (running the full length from back of end zone to back of end zone and back) to equal one mile.
Let’s Revisit the First Calculation with Clarity
The initial figure of 17.6 laps came from a specific interpretation of “around the football field.” Let’s clarify that.
If “around the football field” means running the perimeter of the playing field only, excluding the end zones, and also excluding the width:
This isn’t a practical way to run a “lap.” A lap usually implies covering a circuit. The most common circuits are:
-
Running the length of the playing field (100 yards) and back (100 yards): Total = 200 yards.
- Laps per mile: 1760 yards / 200 yards = 8.8 laps.
-
Running the length of the playing field including one end zone (110 yards) and back (110 yards): Total = 220 yards.
- Laps per mile: 1760 yards / 220 yards = 8 laps.
-
Running the full length from the back of one end zone to the back of the other end zone (120 yards) and back (120 yards): Total = 240 yards.
- Laps per mile: 1760 yards / 240 yards = 7.33 laps.
When people ask how far is a football field in relation to a mile, they are usually looking for the number of times they need to traverse the field’s length to accumulate a mile’s worth of distance.
The Most Accepted Conversion
The most widely accepted football field to mile conversion is based on running the length of the playing field from goal line to goal line, and back again. This is a common training drill.
- Distance of one pass: 100 yards (goal line to goal line)
- Distance of a “down and back”: 100 yards (down) + 100 yards (back) = 200 yards.
Therefore, to cover one mile (1760 yards), you would need to run 1760 / 200 = 8.8 “down and back” runs on an American football field.
This means you complete 8 full “down and back” runs, and then an additional 0.8 of a “down and back” run, which is 0.8 * 200 yards = 160 yards.
Why This Calculation is Important for Training
Knowing how many times around a football field is a mile is more than just a trivia question; it’s a practical tool for athletes.
- Structured Workouts: Instead of guessing distances, you can precisely plan interval training. For example, you could do 8 “down and backs” at a fast pace, followed by a slower jog of 160 yards to complete the mile.
- Pacing: It helps you get a feel for pacing. If you know a “down and back” is 200 yards, and you need 8.8 of them for a mile, you can gauge your effort over those 200-yard segments.
- Accessibility: Football fields are often readily available in schools and communities, making them a convenient place for track-like workouts without needing a formal track.
- Variety: Running laps on a football field can break the monotony of treadmills or standard road running.
What is a Football Field’s Length in Other Units?
To fully grasp the football field measurement, let’s look at it in other units:
- Yards: 100 yards (playing field), 120 yards (including end zones).
- Feet:
- Playing field: 100 yards * 3 feet/yard = 300 feet.
- Including end zones: 120 yards * 3 feet/yard = 360 feet.
- Width: 53.33 yards * 3 feet/yard = 160 feet.
- Meters:
- Playing field: 100 yards * 0.9144 meters/yard = 91.44 meters.
- Including end zones: 120 yards * 0.9144 meters/yard = 109.73 meters.
- Width: 53.33 yards * 0.9144 meters/yard = 48.76 meters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the exact length of a football field?
The playing field of an American football field is exactly 100 yards from goal line to goal line. Including the two 10-yard end zones, the total length from the back of one end zone to the back of the other is 120 yards.
Q2: Can I run a mile on a football field?
Yes, you can easily run a mile on a football field by doing multiple laps.
Q3: How much is a football field in relation to a mile if I run the length and back?
If you run from one goal line to the other and back, that’s 200 yards. You would need to do 8.8 of these “down and backs” to complete one mile.
Q4: What is the distance around a football field?
The perimeter of the playing field itself (excluding end zones) is approximately 306.66 yards (2 x 100 yards length + 2 x 53.33 yards width). If you include the end zones in the length, the perimeter is approximately 346.66 yards (2 x 120 yards length + 2 x 53.33 yards width). However, for running purposes, “laps” usually refer to the length and back.
Q5: How far is a football field if I run the sidelines end-to-end?
Running from the back of one end zone to the back of the other end zone along the sideline is 120 yards.
Q6: How many times do I need to run the length of the football field to make a mile?
If “running the length” means from goal line to goal line (100 yards), you would need to do 17.6 of these lengths to make a mile (1760 / 100 = 17.6). This isn’t a typical “lap” for training, as it only covers one direction.
Q7: What is the most common way to count laps for a mile on a football field?
The most common way is to count a “lap” as running the full length of the playing field from goal line to goal line and then returning to the starting goal line. This distance is 200 yards.
Q8: How many football field laps is a mile?
Based on the common “goal line to goal line and back” measurement of 200 yards per lap, it takes 8.8 laps to make a mile.
Q9: Does the width of the football field matter for calculating laps for a mile?
For calculating the number of times to run the length of the field to make a mile, the width is not directly used. However, if you were to run the perimeter, the width would be included. The most common training metric focuses on the length.
Q10: How does the football field to mile conversion help with training?
It allows for precise interval training. You can plan to run a specific number of “down and backs” (e.g., 8) at a target speed, then complete the remaining distance (160 yards) to hit your mile goal, making it easier to manage intensity and track progress.
By breaking down the football field measurement and performing the football field to mile conversion, it becomes clear that running 8.8 “down and back” sprints along the 100-yard lines is the most practical way to achieve a mile’s distance. This knowledge empowers athletes to create effective and measurable workouts on any available American football field.