This sport is different from a lot of sports because it is both team based and individual. You’re a part of a team that is trying to score as many points as possible at meets, but you’re also an individual who wants to run as fast as possible. Those two goals usually work together, but sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you may want to run a 3200 against a really good opponent to set a new personal record, but your coach knows you will score more points if you run the mile and the 800 instead. Another team aspect of running is relays, and the same types of decisions apply to relays. Don’t worry, you will get your chances to focus on the races you want, just maybe not every time out.
The other unique thing about tracks nature is that different people are running at different times. This allows you to support each other in ways other sports can’t. A quarterback can’t stand on the sidelines and cheer for his wide receiver while he catches a pass and runs the field. But you can do those things for your teammates. You can stop and cheer for your teammates if they are racing while you’re warming up for your race. If you’ve got a watch, you can tell them how fast they are going. Just don’t run along side them, that’s against the rules. You can meet your friend at the finish line with a cup of water and a congratulations at the end of a great two mile race on a scorching hot day.
I think it’s important for people to focus on the team aspect of the sport, and not just the individual. It’s important to have your individual goals, but remember that you’re all in this together. On long easy runs, if someone’s falling behind, fall back and run with them. Running a little bit slower on an easy run won’t hurt your training, and it’s no fun to run for half an hour looking at peoples backs when you’re not feeling good. Bad days happen for everyone. You can’t control them, you can’t always predict them, but you can try and help other people when they’re having them. They’ll do the same for you. If a teammate has a bad race, applaud his effort and remember the days where you just felt like garbage and couldn’t explain why.
To build this relationship and friendship as a team, I think it’s important to do your work together. Team warm-ups during practice, including jogging and stretching, should be done together. Joke around, laugh, but make sure you’re doing the same warmup routine and doing it together. On race days, since you may race at different times, it usually doesn’t make sense for the whole team to warm up together. If you warm up two hours before your race, you’ll get cold and need to do it again before your race. But form groups of people who are racing together or at similar times, and warm up together. It makes your team closer and it shows the other teams that you’re a well prepared unit who will work together to win the meet.