Compare and Contrast Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay

Running Events vs. Field Events

By: Nicky Wubben

Track is a sport for many types of people whether you are muscular, or built for running. So while some people are muscular and built for field events, some were built to be sprinters or have stamina for long distance races.

Running events focus on building endurance. To do this, runners need to practice multiple sprints per day to build stamina and endurance needed to race. Runners that only do running events usually have a smaller build. When running a sprint like the 100m, 200m, 400m, and others, runners use starting blocks. Starting blocks are used to position your feet to help you get a faster start.

Running events usually go at a much faster pace and get done faster. There are some races in which you run with teammates, these events are: the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400, and 4x800 where four people run one at a time and hand off the baton to the next person on their team after they run the required distance.

Field events require athletes to do more bodybuilding by lifting weights every other day. Weight lifting everyday is not healthy and will do more harm than good. Normally, athletes in field events such as shot put or discus have a bigger build while athletes in long jump, high jump, and pole vault have a smaller build. Usually, at track meets, the field events take a longer period of time. Sometimes field events are done in cafeteria style. Cafeteria style is a method in which the athletes go in any order but have to tell the person running the event their name.

There are both differences and similarities in Track. At practice both events require athletes to participate in sprinting to keep fit and in shape. All of the events in track require much practice. At practice and at meets, it is important to keep your muscles warm. To do this, athletes stretch. Both field events and running events require you to. To help the athletes attain grip with their feet they use special shoes called spikes. This helps the person to go a little faster on the track.

Both of these events are fun and unique in their own way. Whether you are a sprinter, long distance runner or are built for field events, you can find some event that fits you.