The pit's forward-direction measurement starts from the approach edge of the barrier and ends at the point where the water jump slope reaches the flat surface of the steeple pathway.

The rulebook simply but clearly states, "The water jump, including the hurdle, shall be 3.66 m in length."

Pits have an upward slope; the water is deeper near the barrier and is within 2 cm of ground level at the departure end.

During the race, each runner must clear a total of 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps.

If the water jump is on the inside, each lap is shorter than 400 m, and the starting point is on the back straight, so the water jump and barrier in the home straight are bypassed in the first half lap at the start.