INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start running track, go to the doctor and get a physical to make sure that it’s safe for you to run. During the physical, you’ll fill out information about your medical history and be examined physically by the doctor. You may have the opportunity to get a physical done at school. If not, make an appointment with your primary care physician. You’ll need to get a few different things to wear and use at practices and meets. Get some athletic clothes, such as gym shorts, athletic leggings, moisture-wicking shirts, moisture-wicking socks, and sports bras, that make working out comfortable.  Be sure to get some running shoes that have proper support to prevent injuries, a water bottle, and a water-resistant duffel bag to keep everything in. It would be a good idea to keep a sweatshirt and sweatpants in your duffel bag to wear while you warm up. If you prefer sprinting shorter distances to jogging long ones, then sprinting events might be for you. The sprinting events in track include the 100 m (110 yd) dash, the 200 m (220 yd) dash, and the 400 m (440 yd), each of which you can run on your own or in a relay with 3 other people. In a relay race, the first runner in a team of 4 starts with a baton and passes it to the next person immediately after they’ve finished running the required distance. Then, the second person runs the same required distance and passes it to the third team member and the cycle continues. The 4th team member crosses the finish line with the baton. In track, there are several different longer races that your school or running program may or may not offer. Typically there is a 800 m (0.50 mi) race, 1,600 m (0.99 mi) race, and a 3,200 m (2.0 mi), but the options vary by school and track type. Consider doing one or more of these events if you feel stronger and faster as a distance runner. Especially at the collegiate level, there are farther distance options, sometimes as long as 10,000 m (6.2 mi)! If you consider yourself agile and athletic but not necessarily a runner, then a jumping event might be a good fit for you. While practicing for these events, you’ll probably do a mixture of different exercises, including cross training, weight lifting, sprinting, and jumping drills. Consider trying one of the following jumping events:  Long jump Triple jump High jump If you can’t decide between running and jumping events, hurdling events incorporate both types of movement. Typically, you can do the 100 m (110 yd) hurdles, 400 m (440 yd) hurdles, or both. Either way, you’ll have 10 evenly-spaced hurdles set up on the track in your lane that you have to jump over on your way to the finish line. You can do up to 4 events, so if you love both running and jumping, you could do a running event, a jumping event, a hurdling event, and you’d still be able to do one more. For the most part, throwing practice consists of throwing drills and weight lifting. Consider focusing on throwing events if this kind of workout sounds more appealing to you than running-focused workouts. There are several different throwing events that you can try, including:  Shot put Javelin Discus

SUMMARY: Get a sports physical. Get athletic clothes, shoes, and equipment. Try sprinting if you can run fast. Go for middle or long distance events if you have endurance. Try jumping events if you can jump high and/or far. Try hurdling events if you love both running and jumping. Attempt throwing events if you’re strong but don’t prefer to run.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Blisters occur when something rubs against the skin and irritates it. There are a number of causes for blisters. These include:  Friction: This is generally intense friction over a short period of time. Corns and calluses develop from longer-term rubbing. Burns: Any source of intense heat from flames, steam, the sun, or hot surfaces can result in a blister Cold: Blisters can result from intense cold. Irritants or Allergens: The reaction of the skin to various chemical irritants or allergens can result in blistering. Drug reactions: There are a wide variety of drugs which can cause skin reactions, including blisters. Diseases and Infections: There are autoimmune diseases where the immune system reacts against components of the skin that can result in blisters. These all require medical attention. These disorders include pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, and dermatitis herpetiformis. Infections with viruses, such as chickenpox, shingles, and cold sores, or bacteria can also result in blistering Genetics: Certain rare genetic disorders result in widespread blistering. Insect bites: Some insect and spider bites result in blisters. Most blisters are minor and will go away on their own. However, there are a few reasons why you should go to the doctor with a blister.  Go to the doctor if your blister is infected. The blister will have yellow or green pus in it if it is infected. It may also be extremely painful, red, and hot. See your doctor if the blisters are causing you severe pain. Get checked out by a doctor if your blisters keep coming back. You should also get checked out if your blisters are in odd places, like eyelids and your mouth. See your doctor if severe blisters are received from sunburns, burns, scalds, or allergic reactions. You should try to prevent any blisters from happening in the first place. To help prevent blisters on your feet, only wear properly fitting shoes or socks, shoes, and insoles marketed to help prevent blisters. You may also consider moisture-wicking socks.  Place moleskin on places in your shoes to rub against your skin or put powder inside your shoes to absorb moisture. Wear gloves to help prevent blisters from working or when handling cold or hot objects.

SUMMARY:
Learn the causes of blisters. Know when to see a doctor. Prevent blisters from occurring.