Tag: Helpful Hints

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10 Tips to Prepare for a Track Meet

Preparing for a track meet requires discipline, focus, and dedication. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a successful track meet:

  1. Get enough rest: Rest is crucial for athletes to perform well. Get plenty of sleep the night before the meet to ensure that your body is well-rested and ready to perform at its best.
  2. Eat well: Proper nutrition and hydration are key to performing at your best. Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks.
  3. Warm-up: A proper warm-up is essential for preventing injury and preparing your body for the meet. Start with some light jogging, followed by dynamic stretching exercises, and then do some sprints or drills.
  4. Know the schedule: Make sure you know the schedule of events for the meet so that you can plan accordingly. This will help you avoid rushing and ensure that you have enough time to warm up and prepare for your events.
  5. Focus on your goals: Keep your mind focused on your goals and visualize yourself performing well. Stay positive and confident in your abilities.
  6. Listen to your body: If you feel tired or sore, take a break and rest. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injury and prevent you from performing at your best.
  7. Stay hydrated: Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. Staying hydrated is important for maintaining energy levels and avoiding cramps.
  8. Dress appropriately: Wear comfortable, lightweight clothing that is appropriate for the weather. Make sure your shoes are properly fitted and provide enough support.
  9. Stay relaxed: Try to stay relaxed and avoid getting too nervous before your events. Take deep breaths and focus on your breathing to calm your nerves.
  10. Cool-down: After your events, take some time to cool down with some light jogging and stretching exercises. This will help prevent soreness and injury.In summary, preparing for a track meet involves getting enough rest, eating well, warming up, staying focused, and listening to your body. With the right mindset and preparation, you can perform at your best and achieve your goals.
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Pre-Season Prep

Is your child planning to come out for the Comets this season? Great! You might be wondering what you should be doing now to help prepare your child for track and field season. The answer is very little. No off-season conditioning or prior experience is required. Our track club seeks to offer ALL kids an opportunity to experience track and field.

Our season starts in mid-April and the first few weeks of practice will mostly be easy running/drills so we can build each athlete’s athletic base before progressing to speed workouts later in the season. This approach reduces the likelihood of injury and helps build each athlete’s confidence.

As for gear…track and field is one of the few sports that doesn’t require spending large sums of money at a sporting goods store in advance of the season. No equipment purchases are necessary as our club provides all the needed equipment (shot puts, hurdles, javelins, starting blocks, etc). The only thing we ask is that each child has a good pair of running shoes if participating in a running event. There are several local running stores in the area that can help fit your child if you need assistance in selecting a pair of running shoes.

We can’t wait to see you this spring!

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Looking for a fall sport? Try cross country.

The Comets season has come to an end for the summer, but many of our athletes will be joining the Brocaw Blazers for the fall cross country season.

Here’s what some of our team has to say about why they love cross country in the fall.

“I love Brocaw because I get the chance to hang out with my friends and coaches while doing a workout. Also, we get to a fun trip together each year to the National Cross Country meet. Cross country makes me a better runner because we do core and balances every practice to help us get stronger.”
~Haley, Age 13

“I love Brocaw because I love running! The team gives me an opportunity to do what I love with a fun group of kids that also love to run. It makes me a better runner because I’m able to train alongside some of the best runners in the country, on a team that is consistently among the best in the nation.”
~Eloise, Age 10

“Being a part of the Brocaw Blazers has been a great experience. Coach Ramsey is an awesome coach who really cares about all of his runners. I have not only made progress as a runner, but made a bunch of friends!”
~Jack, Age 14

It’s not just the athletes that like cross country. The Comets coaches support the Brocaw Blazers in a variety of ways and encourage runners to consider cross country as a good fall activity.

“Running cross country in the fall is a great way to develop a foundation of strength and endurance. Besides just being a fun experience, the fitness that is gained and the the skills that are developed during the cross country season can definitely help an athlete to approach their spring/summer track season with greater confidence and enthusiasm.”
~Chris Boos, Head Coach

“Running cross country is a great experience for any track and field athlete. It is going to push you in ways track hasn’t and make you an all around tougher runner. The aerobic boost you will get from cross country will definitely help you into track in the spring! Especially 400m and 800m specialist. In cross country, your teammates quickly become family as you all train and focus on the same race and goal. I highly encourage all athletes to at least try cross country for one season.”
~Ethan Ferrell, Assistant Coach – Sprints

This area cross country club attracts about 200 athletes metro wide and practices in three convenient locations. Practices begin August 29. Visit the Brocaw Blazers website for more information.

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Sidelined with injury, now what?

Rehab'ing my hurt knee

Being injured doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines completely. The road to recovery can be a long and bumpy ride, but there are a few things you can do to stay race ready while you rest. Coach Torres offers his tips for managing injuries during the running season.

  1. Rest to Recover
    At the top of the list is rest. You must take time out from running to recovery. Rest the muscle or injured area as much as possible.
  2. Ice Therapy
    It is an age old idea that stands the test of time. Ice the area 2 to 3 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Basic Needs
    Maslow was onto something with his Hierarchy of Needs. At the bottom, making the foundation for the pyramid of needs, were the basic needs of food, shelter, water, and rest. Get plenty of sleep and drink water! Your body needs to heal and sleep and hydration are important factors in that process. Here’s a fun Lifehack article that explains the Hierarchy of Needs using sports to explain each level of needs.
  4. Cross Train
    Being sidelined doesn’t mean you have to sit out completely. Cross train with a low impact exercise. Cycling, swimming or yoga would be great alternatives while you rest and recover.
  5. Stay Positive
    As they say, “this too shall pass.” Most importantly, keep a positive mental attitude!! Focusing on the good helps you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Learn more about beating injury with a positive attitude in this article from Men’s Running.

If the injury persists, go to the doctor. Some injuries will require additional mediation to recover.

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It’s H-O-T! Can I still run?

It’s hot! Can I still run?

This simple answer is yes, running is a year-round sport. Heat can cause complications like dehydration, muscle cramps, and exhaustion. The good news is, there are simple and easy ways to stay active when it’s hot outside. Coach Boos offers his top three tips for athletes.

  1. Stay Hydrated
    This does not mean drink water right when it is time to run. Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Remember, the three most important times to drink water are first thing in the morning, one hour before your run, and right before bed. How much water should you drink? That’s a complicated question, but here is what WebMD recommends.
  2. Dress for Success
    Wear light-toned, breathable clothing when exercising in the heat.
  3. Assess Yourself
    Listen to your body. Check for your signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. If you start to experience any dizziness, nausea, chills, or stop sweating, cease exercising and let your coach or running partner know immediately. They can help you get the care you need.

Pro Tip from a Running Mom: To cool down quickly, place cold compress or ice on your pressure points – wrists, inside of the elbow, back of the knee, and neck.

For more information on running in the heat, read this article from Road Runner’s Club of America.