Track For The First Time?

Question

i'm a rising sophomore this year. and i love to run alot. i've been basically running a lil bit and people have been telling me that i'm fast but i need to train to be a lil faster. i would love to be a sprinter b/c that's what i feel like i would most comfortable in b/c of my speed.

what should i do to get ready for the track season sense its my first time out there?

and also do you think i started too late for my first time being that i'm a sophomore?

and any other advice please?

thank you!

Answer 1

naw, you didnt tart late

id say

just pick a point your going to jog to every day

then get a timer and jog there aand back

do that every day

and each time try to push yourself a little more and see if your time raises

Answer 2

thats when i started, and its never too late they'll take you.

Answer 3

run in the morning and evening. try for at least 30-45 minutes, as most practices last around an hour.

buy yourself a nice pair of spikes. ya know, them shoes with the pointy things on the bottom.

it's not too late for you. I just started last year and that was my junior year.

advice: start eaten foods with protien. lots of protien.

get plenty of sleep ( I ignore that rule)

increase your running distances slowly. remember, there's the 100 200 300 and 400. that way you'll know by track season which event you'll feel comfortable in.

if your knee hurts, stay off it if you're told to! that way you won't live in pain for 2 years, miss freshman track season, and limp across the school. oops, sorry; past expirence.

Answer 4

no, you haven't started too late.  I started track last year as a junior and got a 4:40 mile, never running track before, I just worked my butt off to get in shape.  If I were you I would try some fartleking.  Run some distance fast, then some slow and try some intervals.  Then running like 3,4,5 miles like 2 times per week and Join your track team.  

Answer 5

start conditioning a few months before. take it easy at first, and then work your way to running a longer distance. besides the obvious benefit of being in great shape when the season starts, you will also avoid annoying problems like shin splints and sore muscles.

if you gradually build up your level of fitness over several months, you will be feeling great when your coach starts putting you through the paces at the beginning of the season. the conditioning will lead you through your season and hopefully into the championship phase of the season.

try this site, it has a lot of good info:

http://fl.milesplit.us/articles/1744

Answer 6

being a rising sophomore is def. not to late to start. however you gonna need more trainign b/c the girls who were on the team last year are probly staying in good shape and still improving. i am going to be a junior and i start school in sept. so to get ready for my track seasons i run every other day in the summer and than a month before school starts i run everyday. i am also a sprinter and i run hurtles so i try to run about a mile everyday and than some sprints and than every other day i like to run about 3 miles. i never have trouble getting back into shape soon as the season starts so i think its a good workout as long as you stay steady with it. the biggest thing is to have the motivation to go out and run everyday rain or shine or even in the gym. even on the days you dont feel like running you got to atleast do it for a mile or so. also, its always a good idea to watch what your eating while staying in shape. nothing crazy but just to stay away from some of the junkier food and more into the carbs where you will get energy. good luck with your running.  

Answer 7

Stretch everything you can before real good for you wont get any cramps. Practice alot, like walk 20 steops Run 20 step. Also just plan old run run run. When you feel good run around the block. Dont drink too much water or you could get sick.

Best wishes!

Answer 8

I ran D1 track in college so don't listen to most of these people because they don't know what they're talking about.

A HS sophomore is a perfect time to start- I started when I was a JR.

1st you have to get a base level of conditioning.

Go to your high school stadium and jog around the track.  You want to be able to jog for 20 minutes straight.  You probably can't do that at first, so start by jogging a lap, then walking a lap, then jog a lap, then walk a lap until you hit a mile.

Stretch your hamstrings, quads and calves.  

Your coach will teach you proper running technique and what we call 'a skip/b skip' drills- drills designed to increase your stride length and turn-over speed. (like high knees, butt kickers, etc.)  

You can do some of these yourself now as you probably know how to do high knees and butt kickers.  Do high knees for ten yards, stop, then do them for ten yards back to the starting line. Do the same with butt kickers.  Then do lunges the same distance.  This will get your legs stronger which will make you faster.  

You can run up the stadium stairs as well, hitting each step on the way up with quick feet, then walking down.  Then go up skipping a step (hitting every other step) then walk down.  Then jumping up with two feet on every other step (landing in squat position), then walking down.

Once you can jog for 20 minutes straight, you can start some sprint work.  Start on the grass field at first because it's easier on your knees.

You can do 'striders' which is running 3/4 speed or so for 50 yards, then slowing down to a jog as you run the next 50 then rest (10 times).  When you get in better shape, run 100 yards and walk back to the starting line to catch your breath (work up to 10 repetitions).  Once you get in better shape,  you can skip the walk back recovery and wait 30 seconds and then run again.  Later you can get on the track and increase your distance to 200.

You don't need to buy track spikes- just get some regular jogging shoes. (like Nike Pegasus or whatever)  Later on when the season starts your coach will tell you what spikes to get (or he may even give you some)

For now your routine should be- stretch a little, jog, stretch more, high knee drills, go home.  Mix in some stadiums every other day instead of/or along with your jog.  When you get in decent shape- stretch a little, jog a couple laps, stretch better, high knee drills, then do some 100 stride work.

If you can, hook up with a friend who ran last year and you guys can work out together. (they will have a routine from the coach so you can just do that)

Give it a try.  If you don't like doing this type of stuff you'll hate track.  But if you like it, you'll have a blast.  Good luck.

Answer 9

run hills and sprints. then throw in some distance runs.