Conveyor Belt Runways

[Darth Vaulter]

I'm thinking of getting a used conveyor belt to put on a raised outdoor runway and have a few questions. The hard rubber conveyor belts with cloth reinforcing between the layers of rubber (like tires) look quite smooth in the pictures I've seen. Are they slippery when dry? Do you need to use spikes? If spikes are used, how long can I expect a used conveyor belt runway to last?

[VaultPurple]

We used the same type in high school with the belt on asphalt and it worked fine. Now I practice at an indoor place with the same type on top of a raised wood runway and it works fine too.

You do benefit greatly from spikes but some people jumped fine on it without them (as long as it is not wet!)

But the runway is pretty tough so they do not seem to wear out... just roughen up a little from spike holes which acutely make it less slick for vaulters without spikes.


Would I prefer the half inch rubber runways made for pole vault ..... Yes... But this is the next best thing and you can usually get one donated for free and save 1200 bucks.

[rainbowgirl28]

I'm thinking of getting a used conveyor belt to put on a raised outdoor runway and have a few questions. The hard rubber conveyor belts with cloth reinforcing between the layers of rubber (like tires) look quite smooth in the pictures I've seen. Are they slippery when dry? Do you need to use spikes? If spikes are used, how long can I expect a used conveyor belt runway to last?

They're not usually too slippery when dry unless they get real dusty. I suppose there are a lot of different types of belts, so maybe some would be more slippery. You could probably use a little sandpaper to fix it if they were too slick.

They are definitely slick when wet though!

Like VaultPurple said, they aren't the world's greatest runways, but they are really not bad and free is an awesome price.

[indestructo]

Where would be the best place to find one? Who would I call??

[souleman]

I got my run way from Fisher Tracks in Boone Iowa.The contact is Jordan Fisher at jfisher@fishertracks.com Cost was $686 shipping included for an 85 foot run way. The first two years I laid it out on a base of class 5 limestone (see it at http://www.bubbapv.com/Pages/BYVault-Mike.htm) after two years the take off point had a dip in it. Then I built a runway base out of a discarded picket fence that a friend gave me and it worked much better. You can see that on my slide show at http://www.myspace.com/mikesoulewyomingmn. Good luck and let us all know how it turns out. Later........................Mike

[indestructo]

Thanks for the images and the insight into a different type of runway. I would like to know where those who have a conveyor belt runway got they're belts at?

A rollout is ideal, and I may have access to one, but I can't afford buying one... conveyor may be the way to go.

[souleman]

As you could see on Bubbas web site, I started off with a grass runway and no front buns. It actually worked fine for me. I knew though that if I wanted to have others come and jump I needed something better. That's why I started putting the whole package together. This is my forth year and I think I'm finally done. One Idea might be to start a club. The problem with that is that USATF won't sanction it until the facility meets the guidelines. On the other hand a minimal amount of dues and little by little you could add to the facility and have it OK'd by them. Key thing they look for is in and around the pit area. There is no requirement for a rubber run way that I know of. I think the grass would be OK if the pit was complete, you had a pad around the standards and the box and obstacles like tree limbs, power lines etc. weren't in the area. Kay Glynn has a conveyor belt runway. I'll e-mail her and see if she could jump on here with some info. From my experience I think you'll find that you'll end up doing the "whole magilla" so I'd suggest you take a look at that now. I've got so much junk around here from putting my set up together with bubble gum and band aids that I wish I would have just done it right the first time around. Then again, my patience level never would have let me get by with that. Later...............Mike

[indestructo]

Thanks for the input again! I coach at a high school across the street from me, so I have a pit accessable to me and my athletes anytime I want from early March until Mid-August. But I'm working towards constructing something that would work indoors. We do not have a functional box in the school, so I'm trying to work towards a wood runway that can be assembled and jumped on during the winter months.

[VaultPurple]

I got mine from the rock corrie... Knew someone who worked there and he brought me one of the old ones they did not use anymore. It was warn on one side but the other side looked like new.

[PVdancer]

Yes, I have a conveyor belt runway. I started out with a dirt runway. Then, I heard about things like conveyor belts. I had a 100 foot concrete sidewalk about 10 feet away--paralleling my dirt runway. We had it put in for a long jump pit when the kids were still living at home. I asked if the belts were sun resistant. Some were and some were not, and some were resistant just on one side.
The first one I got was smooth on one side and really smooth on the other. I use 1/8 in. spikes. Then, a few months later, I found more belts and they were a little like small tire tread on one side, and on the other side they are a material that is not as slick as the first belt--don't know if it's sun resistant, but I like the fact that it doesn't feel as slick--and it was free! I just put the tire tread one down on top of the existing one so now a have 2 layers on the cement---feels like it will be kind to the shins over the years ahead. I just put the box at the end of the cement runway.
I got them both free from people --or a little donation--
Both of mine came from seed corn dealers (here in the midwest). One place replaces theirs once a year. See if you can find out when that is, and ask if you can have some. If they say yes, and you're the first one there,the choice of pieces is probably yours! There's probably tons of different kinds out there--depending what kind of business it is.
I have trouble with side winds blowing them off during storms sometimes, but I just keep a couple cememt blocks around and set on the runway when a big one is coming! Or ...putting the belt back on is my warm up the next day!
Works for me! Kay

[teamcox]

Old conveyor belts work great, we did the same thing at the high school I coach Pole Vault at here in South Carolina. We got them from a dealer that did not know what to do with old belts, so we were both happy, and even got some for another school's runway. Its so much better that the concrete we were running on, saved on injuries and replacement spikes too.