Q&A for How to Prepare for Track

Start by running at a slow pace to conserve your energy. When you get towards the end of the race, use the rest of your energy to finish it off. Keep in mind that this technique does not happen overnight, and it takes some time to practice and perfect.

Don't start track until you know that you can take care of your body. Theoretically, you could still run with an unhealthy lifestyle, but it may lead to health problems down the road. To perform at an optimal level, you need to eat a healthy diet.

Before joining track, know that track requires time, preparation and practice. Be prepared to stay late, come early, or spend it weekend for this! Track also takes days of missed school, especially for the meets.

You could, if your body is actually lacking certain nutrients. Just ask you doctor to make sure you can or cannot. And remember, it is always better to get the nutrients your body needs from eating healthy, fresh and unprocessed foods. Only take vitamins if you absolutely need to.

Try getting an ankle brace or doing some ankle rolls. If you have an injury, however, then you really should be resting and not running.

It depends on your team, but usually you are able to choose which events you do and don't want to do.

You can, but I recommend wearing some long, spandex-type pants or compression pants under them.

It is up to you. There is no incorrect answer.

If they are seriously hurt or if you caused them to fall, you should help them. However, if they are okay, you can keep running.

Talk to your parents about running with a friend, or ask your coach if you can use the track to practice even without the team.

The best track shoes to buy for events specifically are spikes. They are a pair of running shoes with spikes at the front for grip.

You should eat foods like pasta, rice, potatoes, or other food that are high in carbs. Drink lots of water the day of your race so you don't dehydrate while you're running.

Rest, but keep your motion. Don't stop, but walk fast until you revive.

You should keep your inhaler on you all the time, but there are many people who run track with asthma. Ask your doctor before participating, just to be sure that it would be fine for you.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

No! Anyone can do track!! A lot of skinny people do track, but track is an excellent way to lose weight/get in shape.

As soon as possible; the more healthy you've been eating, the healthier your body will be by the time track season comes.

I would talk to your doctor or physician specifically. Allergy pills can certainly help but they can give you more information about when and how much to take.

It depends on your event and level of competency, but two and half hours minimum a week.

Stretch some, go slow, and just do it! Especially if you're a first timer, warm up your muscles before your lap and don't start sprinting right off the bat - pace yourself. If you feel really sick or are in a lot of pain, you can always stop, but try your best to get through your first lap. If you work hard, you will certainly feel accomplished when you're done.

Sure it's alright, but your chances of being accepted on the team will be lower if you aren't as good as other people trying out, assuming there is a limited number of people they can accept. If anyone who wants to is allowed to join, then go ahead and do what you want!

This is great for running. Running in a hilly area will get your legs stronger and will help your running form immensely. To practice running, there's not much to it. Just run.

Stretch more before your next run and/or take a 1 day break for your muscles to rest.

Have her practice running the curve. As soon as someone says go or the gun goes off, she should cut the curve. To practice further, get the idea into her head that she should run fast on the curve, and on the straightaway she needs to stay on her toes, look straight ahead, and just run. Work on her form also, doing A-skips mostly. A-skips are where one leg goes up to 90 degrees as the opposite hand goes up as well, in running form. Then they skip and do the same with the other leg. This should help her keep her form. One last thing is that she will be fine whichever place she gets, considering she is most likely 9 or 10, she shouldn't worry too much and just have fun.

Most track races are too short for the electrolytes in Gatorade to have any effect, so any benefits would be purely mental. If you want Gatorade, drink up, but water works just as well.

Just start running for practice. Even if you can only run a little bit, every little bit of running that you can do before track will pay off. Just remember, if you can only run a short distance, try to build the distance up, and do not over do it.

For long races, try to control your breathing throughout the race, as even breathing the wrong way will cause you to slow down. Find equilibrium with your breath and your steps. After a lot of practice, it should come naturally.

Thefts thing to do is to practice and time yourself daily. If possible, have a friend time you just so it's more accurate. Each day, strive to run a little bit faster or further and eventually you will be able to bring your times down.

It depends. If you are working hard, drinking enough water, and eating right, you will become better at what you do. It's not all about training, it's what you do in everyday situations that also make a difference. Keep in mind that overdoing it could lead to injury, so know your limits.

Make sure that your ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder are lined up. Also, run with your hands flat and focus on your goal, not on anyone else.