Don't Stop Running!
Olympics might be over but that doesn’t mean to stop running!
So the Olympic Games officially ended in August of this year. My favorite sport, track and field, is out of the spotlight. I personally enjoyed watching Allyson Felix run the 100 and 200-meter races, as well as the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. Not only do I enjoy watching others compete in track and field, I also like competing myself. Track and field has been very exciting and has helped me to stay in shape! I think it is a very good sport to participate in if you want to stay fit, if you like to push yourself, or if you just like to run, period!
How does track keep you fit? It helps get your arms and legs strong. It can also help your heart stay healthy because you are doing cardio when you run, which is good for your heart. I personally think track can help your asthma because when you run track, you learn how to keep your breathing under control—my asthma has seemed to gotten better over the years. You might have these same experiences, but that’s if you stay in a track and field program long enough! You have to be committed to your program or team, or else you won’t necessarily see these benefits.
That brings me to my next point! It takes a lot of work to commit to doing track and field (just like any other sport). Track and field is no different. You have to put in the effort if you want to see results. The good thing about track is that even if you’re not the best person in the race, or even if you never win a race, you can still enjoy the sport. How? One, by seeing the benefits we discussed earlier are just enough to keep you motivated. But also, in track and field you can set your own goals! For example, you can set the goal to run one second faster in whatever race you are competing in. So even if you don’t win your race, and you only meet your goal by running a whole second faster, you will be very proud of yourself. But as I said before, you have to be committed and you have to be willing to push yourself.
Some people enjoy running whether they are on a track or just running around their neighborhood. Some people like to get out of the house and go for a run to get fresh air. Some people might also like running because they enjoy seeing nature around them (birds, trees, flowers, ponds, or even other people who happen to be outside). These are all great reasons to get out and run, but if you already love running, why not try competing in track and field? It is very fun and you just might end up loving it as much as I do!
If you want to do competitive track and field you can try out for your school’s team. (Even though we all attend K12, there are ways that homeschoolers can participate.)
Written by: Taylor Hooks, 4th Grade
