need more info to tell you

do you enjoy sprinting or distance
have you ever run before
have you ever played a sport before
how much do you want to get into it

Run distance.

Or try them all out once track starts.

Well I suppose since you've never run, it might help you if I made you a little PROs and CONs list (this is just of Distance because 1. I'm too lazy to do a list for sprints, and 2. I've never been a sprinter) So...

Distance

Pros:
1. Keeps you in better shape overall than sprints
2. The distance kids are generally much closer, more "tight-knit" than the sprint kids, not to mention generally more focused overall on their performance and somewhat more "mature acting" (obviously there are many exceptions to that statement, it's just what I've seen on my team)
3. We have more fun
4. When you're conditioned and in-shape, race-pace of a 1600 or 3200 seems much more manageable than, say, running a 400 or 800
5. If you start out a slow runner, (provided you work hard) you can end the season relatively fast. You can't usually do that in sprints b/c with sprints, you basically have the speed...or you don't.
6. Distance kids are generally really cool people and even if you're not friends with them, they'll respect you if you work hard (and by end of season you will probably be friends if you weren't before)

Cons:
1. You'll need to train about 6 (possibly 7) days a week and run at least 20 miles per week for at least a month or so before you really start to see results (ie you'll need to start training around February or March)
2. Most of the distance kids run XC and will have trained year-round, so chances are they're gonna be faster than you and will run Varsity. (DON'T let this scare you away! You can improve!)
3. While many non-runners (spectators) and sprinters respect you for running 2 miles in a race, they also consider distance races to be some of the more boring parts of the meet (ie perfect time to get a snack, nap, then come out from hibernation to watch you finish your 8th lap). *Of course if you become a distance runner these races will become your favorite events of the meet, both to run in AND to watch.

I just tried track for the first time this year, in winter, and I was a sprinter, because I didn't have the ability to run long races. However, after two seasons of that, I'm trying xc for the first time over the summer and this fall, to improve my running ability.
From what I've seen on my team, the distance runners are more closely knit than the sprinters, because they run together year-round, and the distance runners also seem to be the ones with higher grades and more general determination for things, not just running. But anyway...
Maybe, if you're not used to running, you could try sprinting, and then try distance.

edit-spelling error

http://This message has been edited by XxMoxX (edited Jun-19-2007).

quote:<HR>Originally posted by TeleTurner:
Another Con to distance running in track is running EIGHT laps around a track. That's probably one of my least favorite aspects of distance running, so I do middle distance in track.

<HR>

Eight laps on the track? That's not even a real race.

Distance!
But you have to be really mentally strong to do distance especially with all the laps. Just remeber they're just numbers. Run now, breathe later. That's what I think when I compete.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by endlessdreamer611:
Run now, breathe later. That's what I think when I compete. <HR>

What!?!?
I'd try that one but I hate it when I pass out.