Help! track sucks!?

Question

track sucks so bad cuz no matter how hard i try i never get any better at running i run like a lot everyday and i still never place at meets.....my time for the 400 are like 1:10 and the 800 2:40. Please give me advice on what i can do. Im almost ready to quit.

Answer 1

Emily, I will say that I have been running for 17 years and I would agree with you that running track sucks! What I have found is that in order to reduce my times, I have to spend more time on the track. Don't quit though, just have patience. You will find many different views on how to get faster, but you will find that the common denominator is that you have to put the time in running. When I needed to get my 400 times faster, I ran 800's to build endurance and hundreds to build speed. Also, weight training helps as well. If you don't know about this site, check this one out for more info:
http://www.runnersworld.com/subtopic/0,7123,s6-238-244-259-0,00.html

Good luck and don't give up!

Answer 2

Maybe you're more suited to a different event. Maybe the 1600 or the 3200. Maybe you're suited for even longer. :P

I was in track in high school and my track coach told me, "You are slow, but I would love to put you in an event to see how long you could run." And despite me being slow, when I wanted to quit, my coach TALKED ME INTO staying. She didn't want me to leave because I loved what I was doing despite the races.

Some people are suited for speed. Some people for endurance. The greats have both. If after months and months of hard work you are not seeing your times drop, you may just have more endurance than speed.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Before you quit, you have to ask yourself some questions.

1) Do you love running without the pressure of setting a time goal?
2) Does getting better at running, to you, just mean getting faster? Consider the other ways you can "get better." Can you run farther? Do non-speed runs of the same distance get easier and easier? Do tempo runs at the same pace and distance get easier over time?

If you answered yes to number 1, you may be a "penguin." A person who loves running just for the sake of it. For the love of motion and feeling good, not for the sake of times. There are lots of runners like that. And those runners, keep running...

Answer 3

It sucks because you allow it to suck. Think about this- whether you believe you can, or you believe you can't- you're right. It's all a matter of perspective. Your times aren't that far off base. If you continue to tell yourself that it sucks- that you won't get better, etc. you're right. You won't. You will hate it and you will quit. Why not try thinking positive about things- I bet that before a race you sike yourself out saying things like ohmigod, those girls are going to beat me, or, I can't do this, or I hate this. If you go into thinking- okay, screw the other girls, I'm doing this for me. I want to beat my time! If you beat your time, then you're getting better! You never know- these other girls might be doing their best now but they might peak too early (get their best times now and not at the end of the track season) and you could be the one getting better and better perhaps beating them at the end of the season- when it really counts! Quitting is only going to confirm that yes, you suck, that you can't do it, etc. You're better than that! Give THIS season a chance. If you don't do as well as you'd like, then don't do next season. But running isn't an overnight thing. It takes practice, time and patience. At least give yourself that. If you end up beating your times and getting better- even if you're not the best, then you've learned a great life lesson. Sticking to things makes you stronger and wiser. You learn more about yourself and become a better person.

Stick to it. Give yourself a chance. Focus on your times, not others and be kind to yourself. Believe in what you can do.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Remember that track is very much an individual sport. Your goal at this point should not be to win every race or even place, but to make your personal times better.

Its definitely something you should discuss with your coach. Maybe he/she can suggest some different drills to work on, or maybe you are running in a distance that doesnt suit your running style.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

How long have you been in the sport?
Track & field is all about time and lots of effort. There will be many days of long and sometimes boring parctices of drills/drils/drills. Technique/technique/technique

Maybe running events aren't for you. Try a field event. Shot put(you don't have to be big for it but it helps) maybe high jump or long jump.

Answer 7

dont quit. u've already got ur times in ur events. keep practicing, work hard and keep tabs on YOUR times not anyone elses. compare ur times from now...until the end of the season. if u keep at it chances are ur times win go down, u'll get better and possibly win a race or two or at least place higher.compete against urself to get better, progress and improve and not quit.

and also stick w/ people (family, friends, teammates, coaches) who support ur effort. just a little encouragement sometimes can make a big difference.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

your problem is not running, but running HARD in parctice... you can run i'm sure for 5miles, but where is your speed..

for one week try running, i mean RUNNING FAST up a steep hill.

then run the 800, your time will drop 20sec..

running is all mental, im sureyou have the stamina, but your not running hard enought. dont lie to me or yourself.

Answer 10

"Running is basically an absurd pastime by which to be exhausting ourselves, but if you can find meaning in the type of running you have to do to stay on this team, chances are you'll find meaning in that other absurd pastime: life"
-Bowerman in Without Limits