50 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 1/8 lap

Fun Fact: The Statue of Liberty is 50 meters tall, base to torch.

Drill: Start at the top of your driveway and run as fast as you can to your mailbox (Don't run into the street). Walk back to the top of the driveway. Repeat 5 times.

Ask your parents to: Count your laps for you.

100 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 1/4 lap

Fun Fact: Florence Griffith Joyner, famous for her 6 inch long fingernails, holds the women's world record in this event, set in 1988.

Drill: Run the length of a soccer field as fast as you can, then turn and walk back. Repeat 5 times.

Ask your parents to: Help you find a soccer field

200 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 1/2 lap

Fun Fact: The average diameter of an asteroid is 200 meters.

Drill: Find a hill in your neighborhood. Run up it as fast as you can. Walk down. Repeat 5 times.

Ask your parents to: Help you find a hill that is safe.

400 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 1 lap

Fun Fact: The height of the Empire State Building is approximately 400 meters.

Drill: Jump rope for 5 minutes without stopping. Jog in place for 2 minutes. Rest for 1 minute. Repeat 5 times.

Ask your parents to: Help you keep track of time.

800 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 2 laps

Fun Fact: An average free fall during a sky dive is 800 meters.

Drill: Run around the bases of a baseball field as fast as you can 3 times. Walk around once. Repeat 3 times.

Ask your parents to: Help you find a baseball field

1600 meter dash

Distance on a regular track: 4 laps

Fun Fact: This distance also equals one mile!

Drill: Run for 12 minutes without stopping.

Ask your parents to: Keep track of how long you've been running.

4 x 100 meter relay

Distance on a regular track: Each participant runs 1/4 lap (see the 100 meter above)

Fun Fact: A relay baton must be no shorter than 11 inches and no longer than 12 inches.

Drill: Practice passing a "baton" to another person without dropping it.

Ask your parents to: Save an old cardboard tube from a paper towel roll to use as a baton.

Standing long jump

How It's Done: Stand behind a straight line, bend knees, swing arms, and try to jump as far as possible.

Fun Fact: Ray Ewry holds the world record in this event, set in 1904. He jumped 11 feet.

Drill: In your backyard or driveway, practice jumping forward as far as possible from a standing position.

Ask your parents to: Measure the distance of your jump.

Softball throw

How It's Done: From behind a straight line, throw a softball as far as you can. You may taking a running or a standing start.

Fun Fact: The game of softball was created in 1887 as an indoor version of baseball. Because the ball was soft, players could field the ball with their bare hands.

Drill: Using a sponge ball in your backyard, practice throwing as far as you can.

Ask your parents to: Measure the distance of your throw.