Why You Should Join the AQ Track & Field Team

Track and Field has two seasons: indoor in the winter and outdoor in the spring.  If you don’t play any sports already in those seasons, you should join the track and field team. Many students think that they would never want to join the track team because they hate running.  Some people think that they would never be fast enough to run on the team.  Here are the main reasons that you should join the team:

1.  Running is not all we do
   Many people just see track, think running, and say no thank you.  There are other things to do.  You can do triple jump, long jump, high jump, hurdles, pole vault, or either of the throwing events.  If you feel that you don’t want to run much you can focus on field events. 
2. Running really is not that bad; it gets easier.
   The first week or two of the season is the conditioning part which is hard, but running does get easier.  Once you learn the right form, you run with less effort. Endurance and speed will build naturally.  Just like any other sport, it gets easier with practice.  You might even find that you like running after all.
3. Track helps you in other sports
   If you are looking just to stay in shape for the off season of your other sport, track is a great option.  Running backs can get faster.  Wide receivers can jump higher to get over defenders and catch the ball.  Linebackers can stay in shape with shot put or discus.  Soccer players can work on their endurance by running distance events.  Lacrosse players can get faster to beat everybody to the ball.  You can improve your performance in any sport that involves running by joining the track and field team.
4. You never have to sit on the bench
   If you join the team, you will compete.  There is no starting line, and you don’t have to worry about not getting enough playing time.  You don’t have to worry about how good you are compared to everyone else.  It’s just about having fun with your friends.
5. Track meets are like big social events
   If you have friends from other schools that run track, you will see them at track meets.  If you don’t have friends at other schools, chances are that you will make some. While waiting for your event to start, you can talk to people from other schools. Most people are very friendly.
6. You will never compete against people you have no chance of beating
   If you are just starting out, you won’t run against people that will leave you in the dust.  Fast people run in faster heats, and slower people run in slower heats.  If you are just starting out as a freshman, you will never have to race another school’s fastest senior (unless you’re that good).  Our coaches encourage us not to worry about other people, and to just race against ourselves anyway.  They only care if you try hard, and if you do then you will most definitely improve.
7. Our team is good
   I might be a biased source, but I think we are good.  Last year in indoor our team did really well in sectionals.  Sometimes we get beat by teams that have huge numbers of kids. Some other teams have more boys on a team than we do boys and girls combined.  You could make our AQ team even better.
   
   
   If you are thinking about track, please check it out. You may find a new favorite sport. 

By: Warren Carter