Elijah Jones and Patrick O’Connell are both freshmen who run indoor track at Page. Patrick runs track because he says that it’s a substitute for cross country and it’s similar to what he loves. He is also motivated to run indoor track because it’ll keep him in shape and all his friends do it. Elijah runs track for his main sport- football. He states it keeps him in shape during off season for football and it’s great exercise. What keeps both students focused while running is focusing on finishing the race. If they’re not the first to finish, they’ll at least try to be in second place.

To prepare and train for track, it’s great if you can perform squats with weights in a training room. This is a convenient spot for athletes to practice their form. It’s important to take the time to follow a routine and perform these exercises with precision; that way, it focuses on the right muscle groups in the body. You’ll build endurance without running. These are some examples of ways you could injure yourself if you don’t have a routine before meets or games:

• Blisters caused by sliding or rubbing inside the shoe.
• Cramps are caused by not exercising before the meet.
• Soft tissue injuries.
• Skin injuries.
• And more.

Running track isn’t just a sport- it’s a hobby a lot of people love, take seriously, work hard on, practice for, etc. Elijah says it’s not just running on a track and winning the meet- you have to have a mindset when you are running and you have to stay focused. One wrong move or distraction, and the whole race will be ruined. You need a technique in your starting position. Kaitlyn Lewis is a Junior track runner at Page. She says she runs to stay in shape and remain active during the off season for cross country. “Just keep practicing and be consistent- it’s the best teacher,” Kaitlyn says. Running track is also her way of meeting new people instead of talking and associating with the same people every day. Kaitlyn says she wants to make something out of herself with track because it’s something she really enjoys. She’s been running since she was in the 6th grade. When running track, you’re going to be pressured, especially because it’s a competitive sport. It can be intimidating, but Kaitlyn states that her teammates keep her focused while she’s running.