What is needed for track meets:
Water Bottle
Running Shoes- the ones you wear to practice daily
A duffel bag or some type of larger bag to pack all this stuff- it will get dirty on the bus floor or on the ground at meets so a darker color may be preferable.
Can use spikes for running if you want to invest but not necessary.
Let Coach Formanek or Coach Hallberg know if you want help with this.
Uniform Top
Black Shorts (Student owned)
WARM CLOTHES- Sweatshirt, jacket, hat, gloves, blanket, etc. When the sun goes down it gets COLD and it's important our athletes stay warm so they can still perform. NOTE: We also will run in rain but not lightning. If rain is in the forecast many appreciate having a change of clothes with.
If it is cold athletes are able to wear plain black leggings under their shorts and a plain black long sleeve shirt under their uniform top. No labels can be showing (like a white Nike swoosh symbol).
FOOD! Usually track meets will have concession stands so there is food available to purchase (bring cash if you want) but we would encourage our athletes to bring PLENTY of food and snacks to get them through the evening. It can be long. *See the 'Nutrition & Water' tab for ideas.
Money- track meets all have concessions if you choose to partake!
*We do have a tent with sides as well as a tarp we put on the ground in the tent. The tent is for our athletes and their stuff only. Sorry parents & families! ;)
A Note on Shoes:
A good running shoe is lightweight but supportive, particularly in the arch. The shoe should be snug around the foot but the toe should have some breathing room so they can wiggle.
These can ward of dreaded shin splits and other injuries that runners get just from simply running!
TRAINING shoes are the most important investment! Athletes are almost guaranteed to get painful shin splints without decent training shoes!
Brand recommendations are:
Asics or Hokas seem to be the very best!
Nikes- their shoes that are made specifically for running are ok, just be sure they are only a running shoe- cross trainers, etc. don't always have as much support for longer distances that we run/ jog in workouts.
You really can't go wrong with any of these. They all will go into nitty gritty detail about what each type of shoe does but any of those brands will work great.
Last year, I was able to find a pair of Saucony shoes on clearance on the Nordstrom Rack website. It wasn't the latest style but I think I paid around $50-$70ish instead of $150. They were definitely an older style but were brand new and worked well. Don't feel like you need to spend big money.
SPIKES- Great for competing, never for practicing.
These are not necessary and are for competition ONLY but if your child wants spikes for meets, I got sprinting spikes for pretty cheap on the Poshmark app. I would not spend a lot of money on them until your child knows what they like in a pair of spikes but in order to learn that they need a pair to try. Many people have some brand new spikes there for cheap which is great for a beginner. I wouldn't go for a used pair as the foam sometimes will conform to a person's foot but people do sell new or even very gently used shoes there. I have had great luck!
Lastly, kids will be running in these both inside and out so they will get dirty. If athletes like white shoes to stay white they may want to opt for something darker that hides the dirt- we warm up on slushy infields and will go running around town as the snow melts. They don't stay pretty. ;)
-Coach Hallberg