A runner must be in peak physical condition to participate in track and field events. Some running events that are held at various places throughout the United States will require a runner to run for many miles before achieving a victory for their efforts. Other track and field events might require a runner to run in short sprints that are prone to draining the body of energy, but at the end the runner will feel a level of exhilaration that they cannot get anywhere else.

A runner might be tasked to use various other pieces of sports equipment before they are tasked with running, but the culmination of that type of track and field event will produce stressors that many runners are unprepared for such as torn ligaments and muscle cramps. An athlete might have to ride a bike for many miles, and then swim long distances during competitive sports events that include running great distances as the final task.

The health and safety of all participants of a track and field event is a primary concern and it will be hard to find any track and field events that are not supervised by a full medical staff. Runners will incur many injuries during the course of a week when track events occur daily. These injuries are not going to be life threatening, but will cause a runner a certain amount of discomfort. Some events might cause injuries to the spinal column that will require the attention of a physician immediately and transport to the nearest medical facility.

Most runners will have calloused surfaces on the heel area of the foot, and if these hardened surfaces are not regularly pumiced off through pedicure regimens, they will eventually cause blisters to form on the heel and soles of the foot. A medical staff will be able to make the appropriate treatment recommendations and apply ointments to broken skin and wrap them with the correct bandages.

Blisters are oblivious to the type of shoe that is worn because feet sweat while running, and this environment can cause bacteria to form. People that participate in track and field events will develop athletes foot fungus at some point in their training period. There are many ointments and powder agents that can be used to keep this type of bacteria from gaining a foothold on the tools that a runner relies on every day. Participating in running events can be sidelined if the growth of this fungus is allowed to grow.

A runner will wear lightweight clothing and running shoes that are considered correct for the events they are signed up for. Some events will require the runner to don shoes with cleats that will allow them to cling to the grassy surfaces that are used for throwing javelins or heaving disks long distances. With the correct track and field attire, an athlete can achieve great things, and training for running at long distance will give athletes the stamina that they need to participate in short distance running events.