The Early Stadium

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In antiquity, a stadium was typically long and narrow, designed primarily for running games. There were two stadia in the upper sanctuary. The Early Stadium was used during the Classical period, and a ramp led from the sacrificial area of the temple to the starting line of the early stadium. The stadium's close proximity to the temple to Poseidon denotes the religious importance of the games to the Greeks.

When originally built, the length of the Early Stadium measured about 192 meters. The stadium had an interesting starting mechanism to ensure that the races started evenly. The pavement in the starting area contained a series of cuttings and a large hole. The runners would take their place in one of sixteen lanes, while an official stood in the hole behind them. The official held cords that ran through the cuttings and were connected to the gates, giving the official control over the beginning of the race. The stadium was later rebuilt with a new starting mechanism, and shortened to 181 meters.

from:
isthmia.osu.edu/features.html