In running, what exactly does "running splits" mean?

Question

In running, what exactly does "running splits" mean?

Answer 1

Its basically breaking your race into sections and hitting the same time for each section.

For example if your a mile runner your splits will be broken into 400 meter sections. Say your mile time is 6:00; thus, your splits will be 1:30 for each lap or 400 meters. A 5K will have splits every mile. A 3200 meter race may have splits every mile, 400 meters, or 800 meters. It assists you in balacing your race so that you don't run to fast or slow at the beginning, middle, or end which will allow for a more successful kick or finish to your race. Essentially running splits is pacing yourself.

Answer 2

A split refers to one's total running time being split into pieces, referred to as "split times."

If someone is running a distance on a track, there would likely be split times every lap.

In a marathon, someone might use mile markers to mark mile splits on their own watch to see if they're keeping on pace. The race might record splits for them at various distances as well, like 5 kilometers, 10k, 13.1 miles (half marathon), etc.

If you hear of someone running "negative splits," that means they're running each "lap" faster than the last in a form of gradual acceleration.

If you hear of someone running "positive splits," that means they're running each "lap" slower than the last--they may have gone out hard and can't keep going quite as fast the farther they go.

If you hear of someone running "even splits," that means they managed to stay on a consistent pace the whole time.

If someone said they ran their splits (or something comparable), I'd figure they meant they had target times to hit for different sections (each lap or each mile, most likely), and they managed to hit them.... they were running "even" splits.

If you read an article where it says something like "she set a new record, running splits of 1:09:48 and 1:09:58," those are the "split times" for different sections. In this case, those would be the split times for the first and second halves of a marathon. Providing splits lets you see if someone markedly sped up or slowed, or if they managed to stay consistent, etc.