This page looks at the benefits of some warm up exercises to get you moving and describes the events that make up the sport of athletics.
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Warming UpAs with any sport, a warm-up routine is important. Plan a routine that lasts about 20 minutes. Begin by jogging to warm up your body temperature. Continue with some stretching exercises for your neck, arms, legs and body.If your muscles are warm and properly stretched, injuries, sprains and strains are less likely to occur.
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Track & Long Distance EventsAll the events listed here are recognised as Olympic events, but at most meetings only a selection of these events will take place. Juniors do not participate in certain events and sometimes the races are shorter for the younger juniors (e.g.. 55m or 60m sprints and hurdles rather than 100m).Men's and Women's events take place separately. Indoor Athletics offers a slightly different programme of events with sprints and hurdle races, even for the top athletes, starting at 55m or 60m rather than 100m or 110m. Track Events
Sprints (Men and Women)
Medium and Long Distance Races (Men and Women)
Relays (Men and Women)
Hurdles (Men and Women) The 3000m steeplechase is a longer distance race with hurdles. The hurdles are spaced around the track and one is a water jump, i.e. there is water on the far side of the hurdle that athletes must run through. Long Distance Running/Walking (Men and Women) Long distance events are often run as events on their own. Distance runners and race walkers do not necessarily need an athletic stadium or ground with a track. At local, regional and national level there are a range of distance events including the popular 'marathons' (26.2 miles/ 42 km) and 'half-marathons' (13.1 miles/21 km). Many clubs throughout the UK are specifically aimed at runners and race-walkers and they encourage runners of all ages and abilities to take part in running/jogging/race walking activities. At international level, there are World Championships for the Marathon, Half-Marathon, Race Walking, Cross Country and Road Relay. In the Road relay competition, six runners make up a team that covers a total distance of 42.195 km. Three athletes run 5 km each, two athletes 10 km each and the final runner the remaining 7.195 km At the Olympic Games, the long distance events start in the stadium, then the race moves out of the stadium into the surrounding city and countryside and finally finishes back in the stadium. Long distance runners/ walkers have always received a warm response when finishing in the stadium but today's spectators can follow the top races via live TV coverage en route.
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Field EventsEach athlete has a number of attempts (up to six in some events) to achieve their personal best on the day.Jumps (Men and Women) The jumps include:
Throwing (Men and Women) Throwing events include:
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Combined EventsDecathlon (Men)10 events are held over 2 days to determine the best all round male athlete.
Day 1: 100m sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m sprint Heptathlon (Female) 7 events are held over 2 days to determine the best all round female athlete.
Day 1: 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m sprint
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