Olympic Track- How Big Is It?
Olympic Track- How Big Is It:
The Olympics or Paralympics is held every four years with participants from all over the world. Since many countries participate in it, different countries hold the Olympics every season. The event is shown on many media to watch or travel to the country to watch it live. Being in the stadium is a better experience; you can feel the stadium's energy and see the athletes in action.
The journey to competing in the Olympics starts way early in different athletics tracks. It begins in school, or at your local community athletics centre. You compete in junior levels, and after being better, you compete in professionals like the Olympics.
To compete in the Olympics, you must choose an event that you will specialize in, and for that, you need to research the types of events. You will need to know how to select the best field that suits your strengths. This article will cover the various games played in the Olympics, the rules to follow, and how to start your Olympics journey.
The running track
Suppose you want to run at the Olympics or Paralympics study on the fields involved. In the running track, one should follow the rules to avoid disqualification. This way, you will be prepared much earlier and adjust your training to the Olympics’ laws.
The stadium has a field at the centre and a running track surrounding it. The running track has eight lanes; the first one is on the inside, is 400 meters. As the running track moves further away from the inside, lane eight's distance increases to 453 meters. Placing the starting points separately and the finish lines the same ensure that all runners run the same length. Depending on the gender, the fields compete in distinct ways.
Gender impacts how you will carry out your practice, either increasing or decreasing the distance; it will change the pacing's effect while running. The type of shoes too help a runner; not be too heavy to slow you down. High top black shoes are a good option for athletes as they reduce ankle injury like Nike free train instinct shoe, Adidas ultra boost all terrain that you can buy at freakyshoes.com. Ensure the shoes are comfortable, used for running, and offer proper support to be balanced.
Athletic Track Events
The track is versatile; most of the Olympic games are in one place without changing stadiums and support both men and women's competition. Some games use the field that is found in the middle while others use the running track. The games being in one area enable athletes to train for their games in one place. Rules to follow in the racing track include before starting the race, an athlete's hand shall not pass the starting line if so the athlete may be disqualified.
Another law that could lead to disqualification is when an athlete is responsible for two or more false starts. An example of a false start is when a runner runs before shooting the starting gun. A runner could face disqualification and possible suspension if he tests positive for banned substances that give him an extra advantage. An athlete's hand and knee should be on the ground when on the starting position.
Events which use the inside field include:
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Shot put
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Triple jump
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Long jump
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High jump
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Pole vault
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Discus throw
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Javelin throw
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Hammer throw
Racing events have three categories:
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Sprints
Sprints are for short races like 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. The 100 meters is one of the most popular and awaited sports because the winner becomes the fastest man in the world. They each have categories for men and women. Runners in these categories are called sprinters. In the starting position, they assume a crouching position before someone shoots the starting gun. In these races, runners follow a rule where each runner must run in his lane through the race, and there is no moving to someone’s path. The entire 100 m race is run on a straight line as the distance is short.
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Middle distance
The middle distance covers 800 meters, 1500 meters, and the mile run in both categories for men and women. Here the runners assume a standing position before starting the starting pistol is shot. The middle distance races do not follow the rule where a runner must run on the same lane that he/ she began.
The race does not start on a straight line but close to a curved lane. Once the starting pistol starts, all runners run to the first lane, which has the shortest distance to the finishing line while running on the curved path.
There are stiff requirements that you should have to run the race like good aerobics and to have a steady speed endurance. Fastest speed does not matter that much as to these factors like sharp race tactics.
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Long-distance running
There are three races in this category, which are 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and 10000 meters. The 5000 and 10000 meters are run outdoors for the Olympics and Paralympics. To perform, runners require excellent stamina, endurance, and race tactics.
During the Olympics and Paralympics, an athlete can only choose one field if running the athlete does running events. An athlete cannot do inside the field events if he/ she chooses running.
Runners can run in different categories of running like middle distance running and long-distance running.
Other types of running include hurdling where there are obstacles in the way of the runners, steeplechase, and relay races. Runners should wear proper shoes to avoid slipping or skidding in competitions that they had prepared themselves for high top white shoes for running are a good option which you can get at freakyshoes.com.
Olympics and paralympic events
Competing in the Olympics and Paralympics is very competitive. Athletes are dealing with other top athletes from the world. There is a huge crowd that comes to cheer for their country and an intense environment.
In the Olympics, both men and women have clear goals; they want to be the best in their category and have a chance at the winners’ podium. Only first, second, and third athletes get a chance at the podium. The first winner receives a gold medal, and the stadium plays his or her country’s national anthem. The athletes also want to break records and create new ones securing a place on the history books.
The athletes go through vigorous training to strengthen them and increase their level of endurance. Specific fields require more exercise than others like discus throwing. It requires an athlete to be strong in two areas, namely short put and discus. The discus is throwing a metal disc very far while in a circle. The disc weighs 2kg for men and 1kg for women. Shot put is similar to discus, but it is where an athlete “puts” a heavy ball to the furthest distance possible. The shot put ball weighs from 6 to 16 pounds.
The Olympics having different events and all being different for men and women create many games. The games are many allowing other new athletes to participate in the Olympics and Paralympics.
Start early
If you would like to one day compete in the Olympics or Paralympics, do these things to ensure that you have prepared early and might win the Olympics. Join your school's athletic team, and if you have completed college, join your local community athletics. Sign up for the different fields offered; it is better to try many to know which one is best. Signing up for one particular area limits your capabilities.
Taking various fields earlier enables you to analyse the different fields according to your weaknesses and strengths. You get to know what you enjoy based on your experiences. You will choose the domain that is best suited for your features and compete in the Olympics with that field.
Research also helps to prepare early, like watching past Olympic games and studying how the winners won. Watching the past games helps you know the rules of the game and understand them better. Watching is nice, but if you have the opportunity, you should attend the upcoming Olympic games.
Attend Olympics trials even if you are not there to participate, go as a spectator, and see how competitors run. Observe the men and women trying out, how good they are as athletes. Check for mistakes that the participants made and learn from them. The observations and errors that you studied should be incorporated in your practice for you to become better. Attending the trials prepares you for your tests to know the field set up and rules.
After trying different events, decide on one field that you will use to compete in the Olympics. It is good to see those disciplines in practice first before making the decision. Continue practising and learn from women and men competing in that particular field. Attending local track events is beneficial, just like visiting the Olympic trials.
It helps in practice based on your type of area write the times that the winners finished with if running. Or if it is events like javelin throw, write the furthest distance the winners attained. When practising, set yourself on those records, and achieve a higher score than that.
Remember to wear the right shoes for your sport, like wearing high top converse shoes during practice could harm your feet and cause injuries. They are suitable for walking exercises. During training, ensure that you follow the competition rules since the local track events rules are not the same as Olympic and Paralympic rules.
To avoid significant differences when competing in the Olympics, apply the laws in your current practices. Adding new things in your training for the Olympics increases pressure, and is overwhelming. It could lessen your chances of winning at the Olympics.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Top athletes train daily many months before their competition to be better, and increase endurance. No matter how good your physical ability is to a particular sport, continue practising to perfect your field and eating healthy.
For better results, record each of your practices like how much time you ran. Record your improvements too; if you performed better than the previous day, record it. Based on your documents, look for ways to strengthen your weaknesses, and for your strengths, check on how to make them better.
Both men and women have the same training sessions and train together even if they don’t compete in the same categories in the Olympics or Paralympics. Most athletes run on strict diets based on their field. Each food intake is different for every athlete, as some might want to increase their muscle mass or be lighter.
Some athletes hire coaches to help with fitness and nutrition. The coaches guide them throughout their Olympic journey. They are trained professionals, and some have even participated in the Olympics. The fitness coach researches the number of calories to take, and the type of exercise to do.
It is because they study your body weight and know which parts of the body require more attention. Top winning athletes like Usain Bolt, the fastest man globally, and Kipchoge Keino have coaches. If you are not working on a tight budget, consider hiring a coach to help you reach your goals faster.
Wrapping up
The Olympics is highly competitive for both men and women; each one wants to be a winner. To have that gold medal, you have to be smart in your practices and achieve better results. The Olympics and Paralympics are run by a committee that ensures the smooth running of the events—the Olympic rules set to give every competitor an equal chance at winning.
Research on the events that you will be competing in and the organizations you would be running in the Olympics. To make sure that you follow the rules of the sport and those of the organization.