A track test takes place on a circuit.
Athletics is the name given to the grouping of various sports disciplines , which consist of different throwing , jumping and racing competitions. According to their characteristics, these athletic events can be classified in different ways.
Track tests are those that take place on a circuit . The track in question usually has an oval shape: two straight lines are joined by the inclusion of two curves. The measurements of the slopes, which can be covered or open, vary although slopes of four hundred meters are the most common.
The 100 meter race, the most popular track test
Among track events, there are various types of races , which may involve the participation of individual athletes or teams. The 100 meter event is the most famous: competitors cross a straight distance of 100 meters at the highest possible speed, running on level ground without obstacles.
There are also other unobstructed sprint races within the track events: the 200 meter test and the 400 meter test . In the latter case, the usual thing is that the competition involves doing a full lap of the track.
Long distance tests and obstacle courses
Among the track tests there are also the background tests . In them, athletes must travel more than 3,000 meters; Therefore, resistance is as important or more important than speed .
Obstacle races , meanwhile, are track events that force runners to jump over hurdles as they go. Relay races can also be mentioned among the track events, in which participants compete in teams and must pass a goal while running until completing a certain distance.
Obstacle races are part of the track events.
Preparation for a track test
For athletics lovers, track events are very attractive since, far from what those who lack technical knowledge may perceive of these competitions, they are examples of a special combination of extraordinary physical characteristics, impeccable coordination and tireless training . This last point is fundamental, since it is not an activity as simple as running, but rather it sets very specific objectives that only the best prepared people can achieve.
Just as in any other sporting discipline, warming up is essential , since it can be the key to success and, much more importantly, to preserving the integrity and health of the muscles and bones. A track test is so complex that just for the start it is necessary to have a particular technique and a lot of training: the posture during the wait and the first step, which includes the movements of the entire body to propel oneself forward, are determinants of the rest of the career.
Athletes suitable for this type of activities tend to be very strong, tall (it is worth mentioning that there are also short runners) and with a remarkable ability to concentrate . In addition, they must be able to react and make decisions almost immediately, since it may depend on this to avoid a serious injury or a mistake that costs them their job.
Differences between women's and men's competitions
Certain differences are taken into account between women and men, such as height, although there are always exceptions: the regulation assumes that women are not as tall as men and this is reflected, for example, in the dimensions of the hurdles, in the case of obstacle races.
At the same time, it is important to note that the characteristics of the athletes specialized in each type of track event are different and clearly respond to the demands of their discipline. Hurdle athletes, for example, usually have special flexibility , since they need to make jumps at high speed and without rising too high.