I’m starting track next week, so in your experience, how is it?
Well, how often do you practice? Sports season is always hectic, but you really learn to manage time and keep your head up. We had soccer practice every day (I know its not track) from Aug 4th - Oct 12th, besides weekends, so yeah I was stressed because it was my first few weeks in high school. Depending on how often track has practice, it may stress you out a lot or a little, but you learn!
Meets are terrible, you have to stay the whole time I believe. Good luck!
Indoor track?
I run indoor track (started this year) and just make sure that you’ve conditioned, or the first week of practice will be hell. I’m a pretty fit person, but because I didn’t get into shape before track started I was dying. I told myself I wouldn’t quit (finish what you started, right?) so by the end of the 2nd week, I was in shape and could handle all the workouts without complaint.
But as someone mentioned above, the meets take forever, since you only one 2-3 events and have to wait for everyone else. They can be fun if you hang out with friends, and at my meets they sell Chik-Fil-A sandwiches and pizza. Yum. I don’t get home until around 11PM though, so I’m glad winter track meets are always on Fridays/Saturdays (spring track meets are on weekdays though, so it would suck if I had a test the next day).
Weather-wise, practice was fine the first month (November), but temperatures dropped rapidly around December and currently now, so it’s freezing. Everyone suffers trying to keep warm (we don’t have an indoor track, so we always practice outside). Depending on where you live, it could be cold too (in fact, it snowed today so they canceled school). Hopefully your school practices in an indoor track or its warm where you live.
I didn’t really have a problem with scheduling. Even though I take all honors classes, practice is only two hours everyday for me, so I have time to do my homework before practice starts and once it ends. I still sleep at 10 PM each night. So just make sure to squeeze in time for homework.
Overall, I like track. It keeps me in shape and I made new friends. I’m a sprinter, by the way.
Which events do you want to run? Good luck in track next week!
Where I live half the track meets were freezing cold or rainy, and the other half were blistering hot. I ran pitdoor track, which was nice, but practices were always right after school, and it was very hot out or very cold. The events you can do are limited, and you may either want to do just track, or just field, or some of both. Anyway, while I’m not a big fan of running (I did high and long jump), I enjoyed being on a track team.
@Anish14 @JustOneDad @Sirsly track practice is everyday, and it’s outdoor. I think I may be able to handle the stress and time management (I did cross country in the fall), but track seems to be a lot more competitive and intense at my school.
@sIrsly I’m thinking of running the 800, 1600 and 3200, since I like distance. Although the 800, I believe, is mid-distance.
Well if you could handle cross country you’ll be fine. The only difference might be (as someone and I mentioned) you usually have to stay the whole meet. Cross country isn’t ‘quick’, but it doesn’t take the whole evening. I thought you were asking how tough it is in terms of academics while playing sports. Did you mean competition on the track team?
Where are you? Track & Field doesn’t start until March.
Track starts Monday after Thanksgiving at my son’s school.
During Winter?
Yes, we are in KY but he runs outside at 30 degrees or less. I would freeze.
I’m so relieved my son is a senior and done with track!! The meets are awful. I always went, so I could bring him home as soon as he was done with his last race. They go on for hours!! yuck! But he loves to run.
@ZBD5421 Yep, just like you said, they last FOREVER! Whole idea of supporting the team… A bit extreme if you ask me haha
@JustOneDad I’m in Georgia, track for our school is a spring sport but we start practicing in the winter.
@Anish14 yes, I meant more like how track practices, meets, competition are.
@JustOneDad I’m in Georgia, track for our school is a spring sport but we start practicing in the winter.
@Anish14 yes, I meant more like how track practices, meets, competition are.