Starting blocks are the structures that sprinters line up at prior to the start of a race. The blocks are designed to provide support for runners' feet, enabling them to push off and accelerate.

We’ll be discussing starting blocks today, where it is almost always important that an athlete gets quickly off the blocks. You’ve probably never seen a running race at the highest level where ...

During acceleration out of the blocks ... to 55 meters in the race." At this point, sprinters will generally have completed the start phase and will now be in the full running phase.