Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Hi There, I just started running track last year, and just started to take it seriously this year.  I don't know a whole lot about the mechanics of sprinting, or training, or anything like that.  I pretty much just try to do what my coach tells me to do and then hope I run fast.
  I was wondering if anyone could give me some good general advice about how to run faster, or some possible things to think about in work outs, or running form, nutrition, anything like that.  Thanks a lot.
  I don't know if you need any of the following, but in case you do, here it is;
My Events   and   Times
100m               11.65
200m               23.9
400                 56.5
Weight             145 lbs
Height               5'11" or so
Age                 17
  My goal is to run an 11.1 in the 100 by the end of the season, which just started for me.
  IF you need to know anything else, please let me know.  I really want to hear what people have to suggest.

Thanks

Welcome to the board.  The best thing I can tell you to do is to read all the old threads on the board and take in as much info as you can, and then get more specific in your questions so we can better help.

Well said 400. :spin:

Ok, I can do that.
1)I was reading over some of the threads about stretching, and I got the impression that if the duration between stretching and competition is short that it can negatively effect performance.  Is this true?  If it is, then how long should the duration between stretching and competing be, and are there any particular types of stretches I should avoid?

2) I don't really like to lift weights, but I know that doing it will help out my speed a lot at this point.  Can anyone suggest a fairly relaxed (I'm thinking 3 days a week) weight routine that I can do after my daily practice?

3) I've noticed that my legs sometimes feel tired as I'm getting ready to run the 400m, which is normally the last race I run in the day.  I'm thinking that eating something that has a lot of simple sugars in it between my 400m and whatever I run before it might help out with this.  WOuld it?

Thanks for the Help

1)I was reading over some of the threads about stretching, and I got the impression that if the duration between stretching and competition is short that it can negatively effect performance.  Is this true?  If it is, then how long should the duration between stretching and competing be, and are there any particular types of stretches I should avoid?

It really matters what type of stretching you're referring to.  If you're referring to static stretching then yeah, it would affect performance since it relaxes muscles.  Dynamic stretching and form drills are OK. 

2) I don't really like to lift weights, but I know that doing it will help out my speed a lot at this point.  Can anyone suggest a fairly relaxed (I'm thinking 3 days a week) weight routine that I can do after my daily practice?

One OL, one squatting movement and maybe an aux movement like RDL's or Bench Press after your HARD days (not just after any day). 

3) I've noticed that my legs sometimes feel tired as I'm getting ready to run the 400m, which is normally the last race I run in the day.  I'm thinking that eating something that has a lot of simple sugars in it between my 400m and whatever I run before it might help out with this.  Would it?

I doubt it.  Simple sugars give you a high that when you're result in you crashing like no other.  If you're eating throughout the meet and eating the right foods (mainly carbs) everyday then the day of the meet you shouldn't have to worry too much about what you eat, but rather just eat something to KEEP you fueled during the meet, not something to FUEL YOU UP during the meet.