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Shaun Botterill/Allsport   Long Track Click here to launch EVENTS Long Track 500 meters Skaters race against the clock for the fastest time, completing one and one-fourth laps on a 400-meter oval track. Competitors begin side-by-side in an even start, and they conclude at the end of the finish straight. The 500-meter sprint is the only event in which athletes skate two races. The individual with the fastest total time wins. Men and women have separate events. Skaters in all long track events compete in different lanes, moving in a counterclockwise direction. Snow markers divide the lanes, with the inside lane shorter than the outside one. Competitors can reach speeds greater than 40 mph. 1,000 meters Skaters complete two and a half laps on a 400-meter oval track. Competitors begin the race in a staggered fashion, and they end at the middle of the finish straight. All other distances finish at the end of the straight. Athletes skate in one race, and the individual with the fastest time wins. Men and women have separate events. 1,500 meters Skaters complete three and three-fourths laps on a 400-meter oval track. Competitors begin the race in a staggered fashion, and they conclude at the end of the finish straight. Athletes skate in one race, and the individual with the fastest time wins. Men and women have separate events. 3,000 meters Athletes complete seven and a half laps on a 400-meter oval track. Skaters begin the race in a staggered fashion, and they conclude at the end of the finish straight. Athletes skate in one race, and the individual with the fastest time wins. Only women participate in the 3000-meter event. 5,000 meters Competitors complete 12 1/2 laps on a 400-meter oval track. Skaters begin the race in staggered fashion, and they conclude at the end of the finish straight. Athletes skate in one race, and the individual with the fastest time wins. Men and women have separate events. 10,000 meters Skaters complete 25 laps on a 400-meter oval track. Competitors begin the race with a staggered start, and they conclude at the end of the finish straight. Athletes skate in one race, and the individual with the fastest time wins. Only men participate in the 10,000-meter event.   Short Track Click here to launch Short Track 500 meters Skaters sprint four and a half laps on a 111-meter oval track. Four athletes race at a time in a mass start. Men and women have separate events. In all short track events, a pack of skaters race against each other, rather than the clock. The individual who crosses the finish line first wins. Times are recorded only to establish records. Competitors skate in a counterclockwise direction. A typical strategy includes one athlete taking the lead quickly and setting a fast pace to burn out the other skaters. The athlete also could set a slow pace with skaters jockeying for position during the last three or four laps before the finishing sprint. Competitors may come in contact with each other and take spills. Skaters can reach 30 mph. 1,000 meters Athletes complete nine laps on a 111-meter oval track. Four athletes race at a time in a mass start. Skaters start out slowly, eventually picking up the pace until at top speed for the last two or three laps. The individual who crosses the finish line first wins. Men and women have separate events. 1,500 meters Skaters complete 13 1/2 laps on a 111-meter oval track. Six competitors race at a time in a mass start. They cover a distance close to 1 mile. The individual who crosses the finish line first wins. Men and women have separate events. 3,000-meter relay Teams of four skaters complete 27 laps around a 111-meter oval track. Typically, team members take multiple turns, sprinting for one a half or two laps at a time. In all relay events, each competitor must skate for at least one exchange. Teams determine how many laps a member will complete, but the same athlete must skate the last two laps. The team whose last member crosses the finish line first wins. Only women compete in the 3,000-meter relay. In all relay events, each competitor must skate for at least one exchange. Teams determine how many laps a member will complete, but the same athlete must skate the last two laps. The team whose last member crosses the finish line first wins. Only women compete in the 3,000-meter relay. 5,000-meter relay Teams of four skaters complete 45 laps around a 111-meter oval track. Typically, team members take multiple turns, sprinting for one and a half or two laps at a time. The team whose last member crosses the finish line first wins. Only men compete in the 5,000-meter relay.