Track and field, a popular sport here at BV, is traditionally done outdoors. Unfortunately, this format makes it nearly impossible to compete in the winter when unpredictable weather conditions could leave the track covered in snow. However, many track athletes still find ways to train through the cold, and for some, competing is possible at indoor track venues.
“Last year, I did two indoor meets, but this year, I’m doing a lot more,” junior Maria Portela, a sprinter and long jumper, said.
On the contrary, junior Carter Moser, a distance runner, ran the 1600 in his first ever indoor meet this winter at the Washburn “Be Your Best” meet. He typically runs the 4×800, 1600 and 3200 during the outdoor season and is a member of the cross country team in the fall.
“It’s definitely a lot different for indoor track — you’re not in your best shape, so you’re not going into it hoping to PR [personal record] or have your greatest race ever,” Moser said. “Plus, it changes how you race.”
Portela takes advantage of the indoor track to prepare for outdoor track in the spring, which is her favorite of the two seasons.
“I enjoy outdoor track more because I like being with the school team more than the club,” Portela said. “I also like the 100, which isn’t offered for indoor.”
The different sprint distance isn’t the only aspect that makes the indoor season unique. There are many different track lengths, changing the strategy for distance runners.
“It’s a cool experience,” Moser said. “The track I went to was a banked track, and I’ve never gotten to run on that [before], and it’s a 200 meter, so it’s not a full 400-meter track.”
Despite the challenges of running a personal best over the winter, Moser remains optimistic about his training.
“It’s cool to see how much I’ve already improved,” Moser said. “The 1600 I just ran [was] only five or six seconds off my PR, and that was indoors. I’m not fully trained or anything yet, so it’s a base point to know how far I can go this season, and also a cool way to get to compete in the off-season.”
While Moser has been lifting weights twice a week and stacking up the mileage by running every day, Portela’s sprinting and jumping training plan looks slightly different and places more emphasis on lifting.
“I train six times a week,” she said. “I train weights three to four times in the week and run three or four times.”
Both runners are excited to do more indoor meets before the outdoor season begins. Moser is thinking about trying the 800 or a shorter sprint, but will likely run the mile again. Portela has big goals for the outdoor season this spring, and she hopes the indoor season will prepare her to achieve them.
“I definitely want to be state champion this year,” Portela said. “I also really want to do good at Nike Nationals for indoor and outdoor.”
Moser also has high hopes for the upcoming outdoor season and wants to see how much he can do throughout the rest of the indoor season to set him up for success in the spring.
“To finish out the indoor season, I want to run more mileage. I’m hoping it’s possible to run a PR for indoor just because of how many miles we put in over the summer during cross country,” Moser said. “For this next race, I’m hoping [for] sub 4:30.”
