Thrower’s Section
By: Kyley Robinson.
Since we are getting a running head start into track season, my co-writer and I thought we would inform you a little bit about some events, but specifically running and throwing. Hopefully you take an interest in track and field after reading.
Step into the ring, get into stance, and throw! I personally believe the field part of track is severely underrated, so here’s the FAQ’s of throws
- What is shot put and disc?
- How do us throwers get to our best?
- How does it work?
Throwing has two parts, shotput and discus. Shotput is an 8 pound ball for girls and 12 pounds for guys. Essentially, you throw the shot into a pit hoping to pass each line, which could get you your next PR. Discus is a 1kg disc that you throw into a field and essentially PR.
Throwers weightlift in off months, practice throws, find new forms to practice etc. Personally, I get up at 5 am, go on a run, practice my throws and technique in general, and make sure I’m in shape for the new season.
Throwers have special shoes for a better stance and glide in the ring. The ones I recommend are the Nike ones, which come in about 4 different colors. Not that it matters, it just makes you look more fly in the ring.
Throwers have a lot of responsibility in and out of the ring to make sure they are prepared mentally and physically because, although it doesn’t seem like it, discus and shot put can cause injuries, and you need to be in shape and be alert on and off the field.
Throwers get two throws in the ring for each event and have a minute to complete the throw. Each line indicates how far you threw, and they take your highest score as the PR!
That is the basics of throwing. Happy track season, and hopefully, you’ll want to join us for this season. Be safe!!
Runner’s Section.
By: Georgia Meyers
On your mark, set…the gun fires. You shoot off the blocks and start running towards training and the season’s start. Track & Field is upon us at DHS, and it is a quite exciting time for us as runners. We finally get to go to meets and compete with others. We get to challenge ourselves in our own personal ways. If you are new to the track, this article is for you. Since you probably have questions on the sport I will answer the ones I had when started:
- What is each running event?
- And how does it work?
- What do runners need to get started and ready for the season?
There are so many options for running in Track & Field, and it can get quite confusing on which is distance or sprint. So let me lay the sprint out for you:
- 100m dash
- 200m sprint
- 400m sprint
All of those above are considered sprint events. The 100m is where you run one straight on the oval track. In this race, you have to be very fast, and usually it is the hardest for taller people. It is preferred if the runner has short contact time with the ground and shorter strides. The 200m sprint starts on a turn, then goes into a straight. It is good if you cannot run fast enough in the 100m. Anyone can do this one; I do it, and it’s actually pretty fun. You don’t even have to be the best runner. The 400m honestly is brutal if you gas out quickly. It is a full lap around the track. By the last straightaway, everyone is tired and having leg cramps. Don’t let me discourage you from trying it. I love this race.
After you go past the 400m, it is considered distance running. So what events can you do for distance? Here are your options:
- 800m
- 1600m
- 3200m
Longer distance, more cardio, and a lot of training, but you might have a six-pack after. The 800m is two complete laps around the track. The 1600 is a mile and four laps around the track. The 3200m is two miles, and 8 laps around the track. If you like running longer, this would be for you.
Then you have relays, which are run with a team of four. It is usually called a 4 by whatever meter you are running. You pass a baton to a teammate and try to time each run for the baton handoff. Teams are usually called A, B, or C. A team is for those who are the fastest to help score points for the whole team. Yes, there is a point system for track, and yes, it is confusing. I can’t even explain it. For this, you must learn how to pass a baton for each race. There is a different hand-off for each one. It is a lot of fun to learn and be a part of.
How does running on track work besides how the events are run? So when you run events in Track, you will have a heat. A heat is the group you are running against. It will be your own teammates with others from different schools. Then, after you get your heat, you will be assigned a lane, usually 1-8, but our home track is a six-lane track. Then, if you are a person who likes these things called blocks, you will set them up. The person who starts the race will tell you to stay in your lanes, then on your mark, get set, and finally will shoot the gun. That signals the start of the race, then if it doesn’t go off and you false start, then that whole process repeats.
Starting your Track & Field journey is exciting, but what are some essentials you will have to pick up? I have a list of things I love to use for running. Shoes are very important, and you cannot use your beat-up sneakers from middle school. Shin splints are horrible, and so is leg pain. I personally love Brooks for running shoes. They have solved all of my knee pain when running. They are quite pricey but honestly worth it. I still have my first pair, and they still run great! If you cannot spurge, I would try ASICS or New Balance. I would also recommend seeing if you have a flat foot or high arch; this will determine which shoes will help support your feet better.
Now it is up to you if you want spikes. Track spikes can be quite helpful for some, but not everyone has them. Most sprinters use them to gain speed faster and dig into the track. Nike is known to have a chokehold on track spikes, but there are other options as well. I WOULD NOT recommend cheap ones from Amazon that are off-brand. I would choose name-brand spikes like your Adidas, Under Armour, Hoka, New Balance, or Nike. They are used by Olympic athletes all the time and are trusted for a reason.
Get a textured foam roller or an equivalent. It will help massage knots in your legs. I swear by this, that and BioFreeze. BioFreeze or the knock-off version is the holy grail for tight and sore muscles. I use it when my legs start cramping during practice. Also, stretch before practice and after. It helps loosen muscles and warm them up. It helps prevent injury and muscle cramps.
Off-season training is important, but no one explains why or what to do. Training off-season is good to keep the muscle and skills you have learned but also to strengthen and repair. Off-season training doesn’t have to be strenuous; it could be just going for runs or working out at the gym. As long as you are staying fit and still running, you will be okay! Closer to track season, you should try to run more and hit more cardio just to prepare for practices and then eventual meets.
Welcome to the world of track and field! You got this! Run for yourself and not others. Try to set a goal for yourself to meet at the end of the season. I am so happy you have decided to join us on this journey! So if you want to do track at DHS, just do it! It is so much fun, and everyone is great! Try it! Come on! The worst-case scenario is that you don’t like it! See you on the track!
Love, your track big sister/ writer,
Georgia <3
