I don't want to be the worst runner!!!?

Question

Okay so today was the first dayy of track and well i was the last person to finish everything!!! I don't know why i'm sooooo sloww but it's hard for me because i'm not used to that kind of stuff!!!
By the way i'm a long distance runner!!
How can i help myself be the best i can be without embarissing myself and being the last person done with everything???

Answer 1

What you have to do is work out your legs and your arms.
When you have built your muscles from both you won't be the last one. My recommendation would be do wall sits jump rope, and lift weights. That is what has helped me and I have taken my team far with this, In fact las week we got first place at a track meet and I got one gold and two silver medals.

Answer 2

You sound exactly like I once use to be. I started track as a freshman boy, and 'boy' was I slow. So slow I barely beat the other JV girls (varsity girls were fast!). By the following cross country season I was the third fastest guy on the team. How did I get so mush faster? Two tips:
(1) Eat healthy! I was not eating very health as a freshman, but that changed over the summer.
(2) Run on the weekends. You should run a long run (45 to 60 minutes) on one of the days and a shorter run (30 minutes) on the other day, these runs should be a comfortable pace. Let your coach do his/her job on the weekdays.
You will gradually become faster in your workouts that your coach gives you because of your weekend running. But be careful about how much you run during the weekend. You don't want to run too much too soon. You need to gradually increase your weekley milage by 3 to 5 miles. If you are a girl you should start running about 20-25 miles weekly and increase to a maximum milage of 50 miles weekly (40 is good enough). Guys should have a max of 60 miles weekly (50 is good).
As a freshman I ran about 2:30 for the 800, 5:00 for the 1500, and 11:15 for the 3k. By the next season as a sophmore I was running 2:10 for the 800, 4:20 for the 1500, and 9:30 for the 3k.
I also recommend you talk to your coach about what you want and what you are planning to do, they know what is best. I once did something extreme on my own and got injured (stress fracture, junior year) and it cost my cross country season. Don't be afraid to talk to your coach. I hope you run start and hard!

And, I almost forgot, Push-ups & Sit-ups (crunches). Do pushups and situps everyday. They help better your running form. With a better running form you will run more efficiently and smoothly.

Answer 3

During my entire 7th grade year I never once placed better than last. Not once. I ran the hurtles back then and now I run distance like you. If I would have given running up back then than I would have never experienced all the joys that running has brought me today. I am in 10th grade now, and I don't win races but I am happy with how I do, the relationships I've gained and my overall health.

I promise you that giving up is the worst thing you could do. Keep working at it! Remember, you are running distance. Distance, more than perhaps any other sport, is an activity in which you can improve simply by working hard- no "talent" necessary.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Awesome your a distance runner like go me. Heres what you can do. I run cross country and then i tried for track i hated being so much slower but i knew i was a good runner. I was desperate.
Heres what will help you like it helped me. Motivation is highly important but also your running strength. What you need to do is go running in your spare time. But when you train bring a book back to strap to you. Fill it with text books etc. Not too many for starters one or two.
Start off and do a sprint and time yourself without a backpack as fast as you can whatever distance you plan on. Like 200 meters for example. Then add the back pack on and do it. If you want you can keep a time of these. Do a couple of reps and then a cool down jog without the bag. This will beyond make your running stronger. Then when you sprint without the bag you find yourself flying down the track.
Another good training is uphill running. Sprint uphill then walk back down. Keep doing this.
These tips will help you most definatly. Good luck and don't give up.

Answer 5

Your going to have to practice. Log your progress and set goals. Maybe someone else on the track team will start running with you on the side. If you run with someone that's a little faster, you'll push yourself to keep up. Also, like you said, you're new to this so don't feel embarrassed about being last. Practice and do the best you can. Stay hydrated, wear good shoes, and stretch. Other than that, it just takes a little time.

Answer 6

I sucked in track too but was ok in X-country. I started lifting weights (emphasize the legs-for power and arms-b/c the arms make you faster too!) I know, I know. You think you're gonna get big and all. Trust me, it doesn't happen. As a female, you can't get huge unless you take steriods or something, and besides; you run soooo much that you burn too many calories to bulk up. I drop my time by 3 mins and and my bodyfat by 8%. I'm 30 yrs old now, but faster than ever, and I owe it to lifting heavy. PS-Lift heavy on days you don't run or you run very little.

Answer 7

ok, well i've been doing track and cross country for a while now, and some of the things i do to condition and improve for meets are some of these:

*jog about a mile and a half each day-you don't have to beat any records or go fast at all as long as you're running...keep a steady pace

*write down your previous running records and each time you run, try to beat your score-set goals for yourself so you have something to aim for

*maintain a healthy diet...try to eat mostly carbs before races...it helps you not to get cramps and gives you energy

*don't drink gatorade until AFTER the race...that slows you down and drains your energy

*drink plenty of water all the time

...i hope i was able to help you, good luck!! <3 xox

Answer 8

hey i run long distance too and i have learned that its more mental toughness then to much other stuff. but you have to push yourself hard. you have to want it bad. when the team doesnt practice you have to do it on your own. but most of all you have to believe in yourself!

Answer 9

well if your in long distance you don't really need to be a fast runner just go at the pase thats best for you don't over do it try to keep up

Answer 10

well im not good in running far but i can run fast really fast. well if you dont want to be the last just try to keep the same pace with some one or evean out your energy that helps. and drink water.....

thats all i can say