Distance......Long Distance

Distance: Probably the biggest stereotype about track. When people think track they usually think of kids who are good at running long distances, but I'm here to bust this myth. In fact the Distance category is what most people struggle with. It isn't the endurance training people struggle with, it's actually the the apathy they suffer from running in circles for an extended period of time. The two distance races in high school track are the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter run, more commonly known as the mile and two mile. These races truly test not only the physical endurance of a runner but the mental endurance as well. Let's visualize ourselves running the 1600 and get our mirror neurons firing! Bang! The start gun fires and you and the rest of the 30 kids ( yeah there's usually at least 20+ kids in each of the distance races) group up and settle into a slightly uncomfortable pace that's making you breathe slightly hard. After the first lap you think hey this isn't that hard, but then the pace slowly increases little by little. You're on your second lap now and you notice.... well that's just it, you notice nothing! The scenery around you appears to be frozen in time and the more you realize this the more your pace drops due to lack of focus on the race and more focus on being bored and exhausted. Finally it's your last lap and on the last straight away you sprint as fast as you can! Not to beat the person near you, or to the run a personal best, but to finally move on to something else!
The 3200 has the same effect, except the boredom lasts twice as long! Now I realize this is contradictory because this article is to encourage you to appreciate track more but let's be real, I don't even appreciate these races. Actually I've really only met a select few people who honestly like running the 3200. On Cadillac's track team the 3200 is used mostly as a threat to encourage practice productivity. For example when any thrower is messing around Mr. Baker will point at them and say, " There's our new 3200 guy!" This makes everyone in earshot stop and drop their jaw in sympathy for whatever young chap just got assigned to such a fate. Now Mr. Baker doesn't really follow through with making these kids run the 3200 because even he knows that this particular race is cruel and unusual punishment to any thrower who hasn't been running everyday. The runners, however, are actually the ones at risk for being "drafted" for this race. Many runners are signed up for the 1600, 3200, or both during tri-meets (which are essentially unimportant) so that they can get some endurance training for their other events. This actually helps a lot in all other races. Not only does it build endurance strength but it also motivates you to run faster in your usual events so you don't have to run any distance races again.
Now for those of you still reading that are actually interested in the 1600 or 3200 and potentially running it, here are some tips for improving your times. These tips are all from the great Trevor Thiebaut, Cadillac Track's beloved distance go-to guy, so you know their legitimate. Tip #1: Always start out a little faster than the people around you and seat yourself in the front of the pack. This will help prevent getting boxed in by other runners. Tip #2: Make your move to pass somebody or increase pace on the second to last lap so that way you don't wait too long and lose your opportunity. Tip #3: If it's cold out where little white 100% cotton gloves for well I don't know but he always wore them. Also don't wear under armor to keep your muscles warm and loose. Like Trevor always said, " Under Armor is for the weak!" pretty ironic if you've seen Trevor's figure, but hey he was pretty dang quick. Instead of Under Armor wear arm sleeves as substitutes because these almost identical to under armor articles of clothing won't make you look weak while also keeping you warm. (Refer to Figure 2.73-2.74) Tip #4: Always be focused on the race. Not the competitors, the hot girls watching- well okay maybe- not the boredom or even the weather because this will slow you down.
In general the distance races are loathed by mostly all but if you're actually good at distance then good for you because you posses a skill that most don't. As for liking distance races, that's a skill that is rarer than the super memory skill.

Figure 2.73            Figure 2.74