It used to be either way, until after World War 2 (though the Olympics have been run counter-clockwise since 1908). Different countries had different traditions, but as sport became more international they needed to standardise it so that everyone trained to run in the same direction (it would be a disadvantage if you trained going one way, then had to switch for the big competition). It seems that counter-clockwise was the American standard.
If Usain Bolt ran the other direction, it would cause the earth to stop spinning!
It's easier to run that way because of the rotation of the earth.
That's the way the water turns in a toilet in the northern hemisphere.
If they ran the other way, they would get dizzy.
Just wondering why we run counter-clockwise on a track?
