Hi everyone!
Today I will talk about my American track training experience.
In the United States, everything is so different than France. As an example: sports. Indeed in the States, sports in high schools are way more valued that in french high schools.
In the United States, most high schools have several fields for different sports, gyms, a track, or even a fitness room. Of course, it depends on where they are located and if it is a private or public school. Therefore, sometimes in the morning after the sports season, they will spend around 1h30 congratulating the athletes. The fact that the school provides a lot of accessories and space for students to practice their sports makes it better.
Also, high schools can be very flexible with athlete-student schedules which will help them, which can be one of the biggest differences between France and the United States. Also, as in some schools, the academic level could be low, and students really depend on sports to get into universities. Overall, what amazed me is how the high schools would accommodate everything for athletes.
In St. Andrews, I had the chance to train with the track team as my exchange student also runs track (and I couldn't go away for a week without doing any training!)
I feel like the training could be the same but the difference is how it is organized. Indeed, in my situation, school finished around 3 o'clock and training will start at 4. Students don't have to walk back home as the track is 5 minutes away which can be very helpful! Around 6 pm, the training finished. However, in Marseille, I will finish school at the latest at 5:30 pm and rush to training around 6 and will finish at 8 pm.
I really enjoyed this experience because I learned a lot about track and how it works, I also had the opportunity to meet new people and talk to the coaches and get some information.
Thanks!
Zeinab :)
