In the Air Force we had to run 1 1/2 within some time limit every so often. A friend and I met at the track and started to run. Another guy, a few years older, joined us after 1 lap. When my friend and I reached 6 laps we stopped and were within the allotted the time limit. The other guy stopped too, even though he had run only 5 laps. He won an award for the best time in his age group! Sigh.
In high school, we had a circular indoor track the center was the future swimming pool marked off by snow fence (thin wood slats and wire).
One genius though he would jump the fence and wait out most of the laps.
He didn’t quite make the jump and punched out his femoral artery!!!
Massive blood loss!
But survived and was pale looking for about a year.