Glendora Track and Field

Basic Training Gear

• Shorts
• Shirt
• Track Pants
• Trainers
• Spikes or Throwing Shoes
• Water Bottle

Bring these items with you to every practice!

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Clothing: Our sport is all about maximizing performance, so your clothes, especially your shorts, should never take away from your efforts. If your shorts are so short or so baggy that they restrict your motion or you have to adjust them each time you move, you’re wearing the wrong shorts. Serious athletes wear short tights or track length shorts when they train and compete. Be serious.

Trainers: Every athlete needs a pair of trainers or running shoes. (And for clarity’s sake: tennis shoes, skate shoes and basketball shoes are not trainers). For distance runners, the right trainers can be the difference between a great year and injury – so you should get fitted, at least for your first pair, at a specialty running store, like Top Speed Running in La Verne, which offers a discount to GHS athletes The people at the store will look at how you run and recommend the best shoes for you. This is not as critical for non-distance runners, but is still worth it the first time. Try on lots of shoes from several brands and do not assume just because you’ve liked your Nike basketball shoes or adidas soccer boots that those brands will be best for you.

Important Point: Your trainers will wear out after 300-400 miles of running. This often happens before they look worn out, because the midsole loses it cushioning ability after 300-400 miles, and when that happens, your shoes will begin to hurt you. This means everyone but distance runners should get a new pair each season. Distance runners, with their high mileage training, may need a new pair as often as every two months, and should keep careful track of how many miles they’ve run in their shoes.

Throwing Shoes: Shot and Discus throwers uses specialized shoes for competition and training. You can get them at the online/catalog stores listed below, and you can also check with your event coach for local options.

Spikes: All other athletes will compete and do some of their training in spikes. Since we train and will compete four times this year on dirt tracks, we recommend that everyone but distance runners get what are called middle distance or all-around spikes. (Here are examples from Asics, adidas, Nike, and Puma – note: links out of date – check back soon for updated links) These shoes have a small amount of cushioning on the heel, which provides useful protection on the hard dirt or runway surfaces. Distance runners, especially those that focus on the 800 and 1600, can compete in these shoes, too, but they often buy distance specific shoes like these or these. Spikes, like trainers, wear out somewhat quickly, so you should buy a new pair each season.

Specialty Shoes/Second Pair of Spikes: There are shoes designed especially for every field event, and many of our top athletes chose to buy them. (You can get them at the online vendors listed below)  Our top people on the track often buy a second, more expensive pair of spikes that they use exclusively on all-weather tracks. (Dirt tracks will quickly wear down the special track-grabbing nubs on the sole of your spikes). Distance runners will often buy a pair of non-spiked racing flats for use in faster training shoes. But please note that no one is required to buy a second pair of spikes or specialty shoes.

Buying Options: As noted above, it’s a good idea to get your first pair of trainers at specialty store. You can decide if you want to go back after that. Locally, the big sporting goods stores like Dick’s and Sports Chalet carry trainers and spikes, but their staff are not always knowledgeable and their selection can be limited. Buying online or through a catalog is another good option. Running Warehouse, Eastbay, First to the Finish, VS Athletics and Dick Pond Athletics are all major sources for track and field gear, and they often have deep discounts on the previous year’s models. The online shops all have liberal and cheap return policies, so it’s a good idea to order several shoes and sizes and send back the one’s you don’t keep.