Joining track next year?

Question

so i really wanna join track next year because i havent played any sports before. i used to be kinda average at running but i havent exercised regularly for a long time so i think im like not that good anymore. any exercise that i can do to boost me up so i can be able to run track well next year? i think i wanna run long distance. and how does track tryouts work, do they eliminate the slow people or something? any other info works.

Answer 1

I was a long distance runner on track, never ran before in my life haha. track keeps everyone on the team that joins you can't get cut, they have exhibition races during meets which allow everyone to run or jump, or throw, so it doesn't matter how bad you might be (i was probably one of the slowest 2 mile people).

my coach gave all our long distance runners this workout program maybe you'd like to follow it on the offseason:

level a: monday, a slow .5 mile run

             tuesday, a fast .5 mile run

             Wednesday, a slow mile run

             thursday, a fast mile run

              friday, a slow .5 mile run

as soon as your body gets use to this and stops aching you go up to a level b which is everything just increased by a mile then c is a .5 mile increase then d is a mile increase on everything then e is a 2 mile increase. after e comes interval training but you shouldn't advance that far before track.

you should also measure your times during this to make sure you are going slow on slow days and fast on fast days. before you start the program run a mile and measure your time, that is your fast time, double that that's your slow time. every saturday during track we had time trials a half mile warm up with a timed mile to see where you're at. you might not want to get that extreme though. hope this helps.

and cross country is usually done in the fall, it's done on the ground going in a straight line (not on a track) and the races are 5k runs which is about 3 and a half miles. track is several types of things, disk throwing, shotput, pullvaulting, dashes, but what you worry about for a long distance runner is the 1 mile and 2 mile and sometimes they might put you in the 800 which is a half mile.

Answer 2

Most schools allow everyone on the team, slower runners run in the last heats and their stats don't effect the overall scoring of the meet.

Talk to the track coaches at your school and see what they recommend.  They may have you do some timed runs to see where you are.

You want to stretch first, then alternate between walking briskly and jogging to build up endurance.  If you can't talk well while running, your overdoing it and need to slow down.  Go as far as you can go in one direction until tired and walk back home.  Bring water.  Music helps with the pace and to have time go by faster.

The important thing is stretching, water, good shoes and listen to your body.

Answer 3

i played football, basketball, and ran track.

im in 8 grade, i ran everything cus our coach sux. but out of all three track would just be getting me in shape for the real sports i played. but i say go for it. it keeps you or gets you in shape. the workouts might put some meat on your bones, small fry. lol. but seriously, go for it. if you have a crappy coach. get with your friends that are doing it and fire off yo mama joaks ant him/her.

Answer 4

well at my school the try-outs for track were that the coach watched everyone running- everything, long distance, sprints, etc. but then she picked out what were our strengths and weeknessess. then we got put into groups based upon that. But idk it may very likely be different in your school.

Also if you want to be able to run well. try joggin over the summer. you wont have school or anything big that may interfere.

try jogging maybe2-3 times a week and just go at a pace that is right for you. remember to stretch b4 and after u run. also when i first started jogging, the first time i did it i got sore even though i stretched. but my dad told me that before i stopped running, i wasnt suppose to stop immediately. before u finish, slow down and maybe walk for a minute or so before u are ttly done.

oh yea. and track and cross country, cross country is usally long distance which u want. but track can also be. i think that in track u just have a choice or lots of other things to do like sprints, long distance, med. distance, jumping hurdles, long jumps, etc.

Answer 5

i decided last winter that i wanted to do track this year, and i survived with just a few months of training. i never really exercised before, and a mile seemed like the impossible to me. but if you just start out running (however far you are comfortable) every day or every other day, then things will get easier for you. i really suggest that you do track- it really is worth it. it's a great sport with a lot of excitement.

Answer 6

track is the toughest thing ever. expect harsh workouts and non stop running. track tryouts- normallly they don't have them cuz its better to have a lot of people on a track team, but they just compare everybody i guess. a way to prepare is to just run run run!! take laps around your block, bike, swim, other stuff. anything you can do to get ready!

Answer 7

I have been running for 8 years now and would recommend the following:

I would strengthen the core: calves, quads, hams, back and abdominal (the "six pack" muscles along with the obleks), chest and arms. But when strengthening these muscles, I would focus more on the muscle endurance not the muscle bulk. For more advice for this, I would consult with a personal trainer. For the running part, I would stay flexible as it helps/contributes to your balance (so do the muscles in your core) but also helps prevent some injuries like pulled muscles and shin splints. Also, I would try to make up a schedule where you can run for X amount of days and try to have a long run. I would start off slowly, running about 2-3 miles per run for the first week and increase my mileage per week. Make sure you have the following: a good diet, hydration, sleep, a good sense on how to take care of your body, and sleep. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

Well the good thing about track is that its pretty easy to train for it. Unlike other sports, you don't have to train multiple sets of muscles in your body. If I were you I would run everyday and record yourself to run longer and faster.

A great way to do this is to get the nike+ equipment. You need an ipod nano and then a nike+ sensor. This will keep track of all of your runs and display them on your itunes. It is great to make goals for yourself and it reminds you to run. I like to join groups from all across the world and acheive a goal together or to be in the top 10 in the group. It's a great motivator!

Answer 9

Hey, I was in the situation you were in last year. I started running the 400, so I went with the middle distance group. Running with the distance I would say would be very difficult if you are not in great shape... but it's definitely a great goal. If you want to run track next year, that's great. That gives you all summer to train. If you can, join a gym. Planet Fitness (if you have any near you) is only $10 a month! Run on the treadmill a lot, you're going to also need to do a lot of cardio. Jump rope. Run run run!!!

They don't eliminate slow people, and there aren't tryouts. Well I've never heard of any school ever doing that.

Just show up at track on the first day that it starts, and talk to the coach. Tell him/her that you're new and what you want to do.

The difference between cross country and regular track is that xc runs long distances. longggg distances. There's no sprinting or field events. Many times you may run through trails in the woods or on streets, you're not always running on the track. Regular track runs on the track most of the time.

Answer 10

cross country is LONG distance running. track is usually around a field or something like that.

definetly, you should go for it! you can improve by going outside everyday and running or jogging a mile or so. if you do that, your endurance will build up and you will become really fast

hope this helps!

Answer 11

Okay well I am in track and;;

We just work on warm ups for everyone suck as stretches and lunges and stuff.

And then the long distancers usually just start running and other stuff.

But usually they don't eliminate anyone, but for meets they put the best in points and the others in exhibition.

And cross country is long distance only, for more of an endurance thing.

Track is usually short distance, long distance, field events and such.

Answer 12

In track no one is kicked off the team unless your not trying if u are the slowest person in the world u could still be one the team, you just wont be able to go to invitationals (speacial meets u get medals at) some good exercises are to stretch your arms out by putting one behind ur head then grab ur hand and pull. and then were ur lift ur leg up behind you to stretch it, and alos butterflies. hope i helped =]

Answer 13

there are usually no cuts in track... start easy-3 or  4 miles...then work up from there. Have days with repeat 400s, f**t-licks, really long slow runs (6 and eventually 10 miles). Keep variation. Start out slow, but put in good effort, then build from there. Track is awesome and an excellent sport to meet people and get in excellent shape. I find the best way to run is with a group to keep you motivated and if you cannot find people to run with, listen to your ipod. Track is fantastic. It is a VERY demanding sport but the benefits are enormous. RUN TRACK...you'll be happy you did!

Answer 14

Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,

Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,

Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run,

And RUUUUUNNNNN SOME MORE!

Answer 15

Track is run on a 400-meter oval, usually with a rubberized surface. It includes many different distances, from the 100-meter dash on up. It also includes throwing and jumping events.

Other running events include (in meters), the: 200, 400, 800, 1600 (often called the mile, but it's a little shorter than a mile), 3200 (two-mile) and 100-meter and 300-meter hurdle races. There are also several relay races (400, 800, 1600 and 3200 where each runner completes only one-quarter of the distance). Throwers have options of the shot put, discus and javelin, and jumpers have the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

At the collegiate and Olympical level, the 1500 replaces the 1600 and the 5K replaces the 3200. A 3K Steeple Chase is also added (each lap included jumping three very solid hurdles and jumping over a water barrier).

Cross country (often abbreviated XC), in the U.S., is usually raced on hilly grass surfaces — such as  golf courses. Cross country is usually a fall sport, but sometimes spring. Race distances vary, but most high school boys run 5K (3.1 miles). Girls also run 5K, but some states designate shorter races for girls. College men usually run 8K or 10K.

Cross country and the steeple chase are two of the toughest sporting events ever invented. When I was coaching XC, I had a meet tee-shirt made up that said:

I run cross country — the look on your face is awe and respect.

If you run cross country, you can brag about that the rest of your life.

When I was in my best racing condition in college, my resting heart rate was less than 40 beats per minute. I couldn't play Monopoly because every time my massive lungs exhaled all the money went flying all over!

When you finish your first 10-mile run and feel that big smile ... you'll know what I'm talking about. And the first time you run it in less than an hour — you'll wonder why they ever bothered inventing cars!

I would rather run cross country in last place than score a winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, because when I finish the race, I know it was all me — no help from blockers or snobbish quarterbacks taking credit for the pass — and no time outs!

Don't worry about tryouts. Your coach knows you're a beginner. If he's any coach at all, he'll help you find the sport and event that's right for you!

Answer 16

I run, and time it, after I time it...i try to beat that time...and so on

Answer 17

Well im in track right now i and in speed running for 100meters 4x100 relay 200meters 4x200 relay shot and some other things. it de pends what u wanna do if you want to do like shot and discus then work on ur upper body such as buildung mucles in you arms and shoulders.Id  you doing long distance the force your self to run as long as possible but nowing your limits dont  push your self to the point where u cant breath!!!!!!if you wanna do speed then measure up 100meters and run that and have someone time you  so you know  your time then u can go and run that untill u want to be at. as for the jumps i dont know b/c i've never done them and will never do them. once you know what to do ask ur couch what kind of things you should be wokin out.just drink alot of liquids suck as watervitimen water gatorade powerade just dont drink energy drink b/e u get tired faster.and dont drink anything of eat if u know ur going up soon or have to run alottt....

GOOD LUCK

Answer 18

well it depends on if ur trying out for ur school. jr.high or high school. if u want to run long distance. try running a mile everyday and setting a time and beating that time every time u run another mile. they do not eliminate slow people. in fact in my opionoin id have slow people than no people at all. in track it isnt all just running. there is feild events also. which were the slower people would probably go. i do the shotput. and we workout and do muscle building drills.  and the difference between cross country and track is in track there is sprinting and feild events. cross country is very long distance running.