What To Wear For Track Practice and Meet Day

What to wear for track and field depends on the day: practice gear for daily training, the team uniform for meets, warmups for race-day pull-on and pull-off, and weather layers for early-season cold mornings. Below is the breakdown for athletes by season and meet type, plus what parents and family should wear in the bleachers when it's 35 degrees in March.

Practice Gear: Daily Training

The default practice outfit:

• Top: Moisture-wicking performance tee or tank.
• Bottom: Athletic mesh shorts (7-inch inseam standard).
• Cold-weather addition: Long sleeve tee or quarter-zip pullover.
• Footwear: Training shoes (not racing spikes).

Meet Day: Competition Outfit

For competition days:

• Uniform: Team meet tank or singlet provided by the program.
• Bottom: Team-issued meet shorts or compression shorts under the singlet.
• Warmup top: Team hoodie or quarter-zip for pre-race and between heats.
• Warmup bottom: Sweatpants or warmup pants for pre-race, removed before competition.
• Footwear: Racing spikes for the event, training shoes for warmup.

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Cold-Weather Practice and Early-Season Meets

February and March practices and early-season meets often run in 30 to 45 degree weather. Add:

• Long sleeve performance tee as base layer.
• Hoodie or quarter-zip on top.
• Sweatpants over shorts.
• Cuffed winter hat or beanie.
• Optional running gloves.

Hot-Weather Practice and Summer Training

For July training and late-season meets in 80+ degree weather:

• Performance tank (Bella+Canvas Performance Workout Tank or Ladies' Racerback).
• Athletic mesh shorts.
• Hat or visor for sun protection.
• Hydration belt or bottle for distance athletes.

Parent and Family Bleacher Gear

Parents and family watching from the bleachers should bring:

• School spirit tee or "TRACK MOM/DAD" tee.
• Hoodie or jacket for the temperature.
• Wearable blanket or pad for cold metal bleachers.
• Sunscreen and water for warm meets.

See track mom and parent shirts for parent apparel options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need racing spikes for practice?

Most practices are done in training shoes. Spikes get used for the specific workouts (intervals on the track) and for competition. Many athletes have one pair of training shoes and one pair of spikes.

What about uniforms for the first meet of the season?

Most programs distribute meet uniforms before the first competition. If your program runs a team shop, the meet uniform is one of the first products that goes live.

Can I wear regular athletic clothes if I don't have team gear yet?

For practice, yes. For meets, federation uniform rules typically require the school-issued meet uniform.

Should I wear cotton or polyester?

For practice, polyester moisture-wicking is more comfortable for sweat management. For around-school spirit wear, soft cotton wears better. Many athletes own both.