Track racing is so close to road racing that you won't need any special equipment or techniques to cope with it other than, perhaps, an extraordinarily high boredom threshold. The only real difference between the two is that modern running tracks are gentler than sidewalks and will therefore be more forgiving on the joints.
Don't believe the myth that if you run down a track in the same direction all the time, leaning into corners, you will develop one leg much stronger than the other. Most of the tracks are 400m ovals with relatively smooth curved ends, and the speed at which you'll traverse will mean that you shouldn't be standing upright.
Cross country run
Cross country can be dangerous and exhausting, putting you at the mercy of the elements and covering you in mud, but at the same time it can give you a fantastic running experience with enormous mental and physical benefits. If you travel a route that takes you through forests, streams, and open fields, it's easy to pretend you're in a battle with nature. So if you get soaked, muddy, and even a little blood, you will really feel like some kind of a warrior. It is also totally unpredictable, and even your usual route will be noticeably different each time you run it.
The cross country is tremendously exhilarating and is the most fun you can have in your running shoes.
Putting aside its obvious dangers (slipping, being chased or attacked by animals, running into trees, dodging lightning bolts, brambles, or weirdos in the forest, etc.) you should enjoy the fact that you will gain more physically than running track company down the road. Because you push off an uneven surface it constantly alters the angles of the legs, requiring a greater range of muscles to be used. Also, because a good cross-country run uses a shorter stride to tackle soft and slippery terrain more effectively, it has less springback and therefore puts more power on your hips and thighs. ; cross country runners tend to do well in road races because of this added strength. Additionally, running on softer surfaces takes much of the stress on the leg joints that occurs when running on the road.
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