I just started track and I'm the worst on the team. Should I quit?

Question

I am really out of shape and haven't ran, let alone, played any sports for about the last 4 years. I am also really tall and skinny so this might be part of the problem. I am a 15 year old guy who is 5'9 and weighs only 90 pounds. All my life I have been a really fast runner, but never ever had good stamina or endurance. I can only run for about a minute and I feel really tired and like I am about to faint. My legs and stomach also cramps up.

Today, we had to do these things yet again, for a half hour straight where you had to run in a line and the last people in line would sprint to the front and I started losing it after the first 45 seconds. The people in front of me were running way faster than me and I was slowing my group down. It's just really hard for me. The positive side is that I am really flexible and have good leg muscles and my legs never really burn of hurt, but they sometimes cramp along with my stomach. Also, my throat starts to hurt and feels stuffed up and my ears hurt and I begin to feel nauseous. I have only been doing this for 4 days, but today I was surprised at how long some people could run compared to me. I was the worst one and there were three other people who were kind of bad, and kept walking and getting talked to my the coach too, but I was definitely the worst, and we have a pretty big track team. Even most of the girls who didn't play sports were better than me.

Idk, it just seems like I'm so far behind and I just can't do it. I think I will majorly slow down the team and never be able to do it, or ever catch up. Each day, I get up and tell myself that I will run and make it, but I never can. The more you run, the better endurance you'll get, but I couldn't run long at all which isn't helping to build up my endurance much. I see the other kids running for a long time while tired and I know in my head they are getting better and better while leaving me behind. I don't know if I'll ever be able to do this or if I'll ever catch up.

Should I quit? Do you think I'll ever catch up or is or was anyone here in a similar position?

Answer 1

to be honest... im sort of a big boy (just about 6'0 177 lbs) and i can NOT run for my life. i use to be a big baseball player and i could hardly even run that diamond lol. i asked my teammates for advice on how to run faster, every one of them told me "run atleast 30 minutes a day running at an inclined level" i looked at them funny and thought if they were crazy because im fat. but that advice is good.



ANYWAYS... follow your dreams even though it may be bad at first. dont worry about what your team thinks those sports are all about having fun and trying your best.

Answer 2

Hehe, I actually started giggling when I read this question... why you may ask, well...



When I frist joined Cross Country (what some consider "EXTREME track lol), I was overweight and I couldn't run a full mile without stopping... in fact on our very first practice run through a park (that had long trails with trees), I got lost, stopped running after a quarter mile, was in the park for OVER 2 HOURS before they decided to send a search team. I'm not kidding, exagerating, stretching the truth, I'm 100% serious.



Thank GD I had my cell and called my dad who said that all the varsity runners went back to look for me and he'd talk me out of the park. Well... after 2 hours of running/walkng through the woods, I found my way to the parking lot and walked to the coachs whose mouth dropped and asked me if I was running from a bear (I was literally like a sponge with sweat). Needless to say, that was probably one of the worst track experiances ANYONE has ever had.



But despite this hell of an experiance, they didn't kick me off, make me feel like trash, give me dirty looks (well maybe 1 or 2 did), but in fact encouraged me. And now? Well, now I'm one of the best runners on the track team, going from a mile time were I tried realy hard and got 14 mins to now running 5min 29sec (a few months ago) at the New York Armory.



So will it get better? Yes. Will you get better? Yes. Shoud you quit? NO!

Answer 3

don't ever give up if you like it that is. I am also tall and when I started doing tracks I was really fast I probably could have won it but just could not keep my breath and ended up falling behind. I never really have bothered about it but this year I wanted to win a race at sports day, and I know I have bad stamina but not so long a go I started jogging and since I have noticed my stamina getting better and now i can sprint for longer.





hope this helps

Answer 4

Lolz, you sound like me at the beginning of track season!!

Well, I am a 12 year old girl, 5' 5''. I was kinda like you.

1.) Just keep pushing yourself. That's what I have to do, and I am improving greatly in 2 weeks of practice everyday. I know it's a lot of pain (I just killed my Hamstring. lolz) but it gets easier in the end.

2.) That happened to me, but I had shin-splints and I pulled muscles in both legs. (same excersise) and we had to do that for a mile. If the other kids don't scream "Slow down!" you scream it. The whole back of the line and I were screaming that when I was limp/sprinting up since the people at the front were going wayy to fast.



Don't worry, it will get easier. You most definatly will catch up and I was and am in the same situation!!

Good Luck and don't quit!!

Answer 5

Don't quit. If you do, the next person better than you will be the worse. If he quits it'll start a cycle. What if there is only two people on a track team and ones better than the other. Naturally if they follow your lead, the one that is slower would quit, leaving only one member.



Just because you are the worst one now doesn't mean you'll end up the worst one. And if you are still the worst one at the end of your season, just train harder next season. Good Luck!

Answer 6

If your goal is 2:20 for the 800 in college the 800m isnt your event at all. No offense but my 8th grade younger brother PR'd with a 2:10 last year in 8th grade. Since you finished 2nd in a 3000m (time would be nice) you seem to be better at the longer distance events, try maybe the Steeplechase? or 3000/3200m run.

Answer 7

No, don't be a quitter. I'm right there with ya, Spring track just started for me and i am soo out of shape since Winter track. We just did this reeeally sucky workout today, and i'm not the fastest, but you just have to keep going. Things will definetly get better once you get back into good shape, and in meets just push yourself to keep up with people in front of you so you won't be last. And it doesn't matter if you are the worst, your biggest competitor is yourself. Just focus on getting better times and self improvement. Best of luck!

Answer 8

DONT QUIT!!! when i started cross country i barely finished 5 miles (on the first day..) i was so tired and i almost quit but i am glad i didnt because i ended up getting a ton better with each day and ended up being on varsity cross country and latter track (which is super hard to get because our school is top in the region ..) so dont quit and just keeping going u will find out that with each day u will get better ...

Answer 9

I suck at track no lie but i do it for fun. Who cares if your not the fastest. Just make friends with the guys on the team and have fun with it. When you get into shape everything will become a whole lot easier. You shouldn't quit. You might regret it. And who knows by the end of the season you might be one of the fastest kid on the team.

Answer 10

If your really tall, 5'9 my reccomendation would be to do hurdles. If you can run fast in a short distance and you have amazing(or black) hops than i would definitely recommend hurdles.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 11

Don't quit . Push your self. who care if your slow just run to do your best.

Answer 12

no. dont quit. i would lift weights and try running longer everyday. theres always room for improvement!

Answer 13

No don't quit! This way you have a challenge to do better!