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        riddles >> general problem-solving / chatting / whatever >> Stadium Running
        
(Message started by: Barukh on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:26pm)

Title: Stadium Running
Post by Barukh on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:26pm

Imagine you enter the stadium and start running.

What running direction is more natural for you: clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Do you have an explanation why?

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by towr on Dec 24^th, 2004, 12:28am

anticlockwise, I like to keep right, just like in traffic

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by Grimbal on Dec 24^th, 2004, 7:42am

But then you need to run more per round than if you run clockwise. ;D.
Uh... assuming there is a neat lane.

Anyway, I think there is some standard to run anti-clockwise. (Is it because you run against the clock)? So I would probably run anti-clockwise, just because I saw people do so.

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by Barukh on Dec 24^th, 2004, 9:14am

on 12/24/04 at 00:28:27, towr wrote:

anticlockwise, I like to keep right, just like in traffic

Does it mean our British and Indian friends would prefer the opposite direction? ;)

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by Sir Col on Dec 24^th, 2004, 2:37pm

Plus the Australasians and most of Africa! ;)

My guess is that most people are right handed and right footed, which means they are more comfortable driving into a bend with their stronger side on the outside: allowing greater control between strength and balance.

As a side note I would like to test a theory I have about those who are left/right handed in this poll (http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=riddles_general;action=display;num=1103927769;start=0).

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by John_Gaughan on Dec 24^th, 2004, 9:51pm

Counter-clockwise. I used to run track in high school, and that is the direction tracks go. That is also the direction for the tracks I run on base for physical training.

When I run, I take my first step with my right foot, pushing off with my left (although I haven't used a starting block in years). I am right-handed.

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by EZ_Lonny on Dec 27^th, 2004, 3:04am

I am not a runner. I am a smoker.

But I think biology says that a right-legged person - averaged - takes longer steps when moving your right leg forward. So you 've got the tendency to run in circles.

When blindfolded it s almost impossible to walk in a straight line. Right legged men astray to the left. Left legged astray to the right.

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by Barukh on Dec 27^th, 2004, 8:51am

on 12/27/04 at 03:04:01, EZ_Lonny wrote:

That's interesting... I've never heard about attributing directions to legs - maybe, because I always associated the right/left-handedness with writing.

Quote:

When blindfolded it s almost impossible to walk in a straight line. Right legged men astray to the left. Left legged astray to the right.

Is it true also for swimming?

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by EZ_Lonny on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:57am

on 12/27/04 at 08:51:03, Barukh wrote:

That's interesting... I've never heard about attributing directions to legs - maybe, because I always associated the right/left-handedness with writing.

Is it true also for swimming?

Don't know that, but it seems plausible?

Title: Re: Stadium Running
Post by Icarus on Dec 29^th, 2004, 7:33am

In swimming there are so many forces going on that I think it should be even harder to swim straight without some sort of reference. However - the direction of drift depends on many factors. For instance, if you are swimming near the edge of the pool, I suspect that it might influence your direction some (racing swimmers don't like the outside lanes because of drag from the walls). In the center of the pool, direction would probably be most influenced by both handedness and leggedness.

To determined if you are right- or left-legged, sit in a chair and try get something with your foot (something far enough away that you have to stretch the leg out to get it, and centered in front of you, so that either leg is equally useful, except for motor control issues). The leg you naturally use for this is your "leggedness".