January and February used to be bleak months for high school track and field athletes not involved in a winter sport.

Sure, runners could layer up and go out on the school's track for a workout ... if the weather cooperated, or if they didn't mind running through the snow.

Sprinters could always practice starts in hallways at their schools or in the gym between basketball practice sessions and games. The throwers could spend time in the weight room, getting stronger, and maybe work on their technique in the gym between basketball practice sessions, games and the sprinters working on their starts.

But practicing with no competition in sight until the first outdoor meet in late March was, well, boring. It dulled the senses and, after a time, seemed senseless.

Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette It's tight quarters during a meet at Slippery Rock University. Click photo for larger image.

Thank God for the indoor track season.

Few in this part of the state even realize there is a scholastic indoor season. But it can produce big dividends for athletes.

The indoor season is sanctioned by the PIAA. The official start for indoor track this school year was Nov. 13 with the first date for a competition Dec. 1. The indoor season ends Saturday with the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association indoor state championships at Penn State's Multi-Sports facility.

There were five indoor meets in Western Pennsylvania this year with the first at the Pitt Field House Jan. 6 and the last, the Tri-State Track & Field Coaches Association indoor championships, last Friday at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. There were also three specialty competitions involving the shot put, pole vault and high jump at Thomas Jefferson, Butler and Montour high schools, respectively.

"It's another opportunity for [high school students] to get involved instead of sitting around and doing nothing," Montour High School coach Al Dines said.

There aren't as many events at an indoor meet and some others are scaled down. For example, there is no discus or javelin competition for obvious reasons. Instead of the 100-meter dash and 110- or 100-meter hurdles, there are the 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles. The distance race is 3,000 meters instead of 3,200 and usually there is a mile run.

The distances at the venues also vary. The indoor track at Pitt is 220 yards around, the one at Slippery Rock is 200 meters and they are only three or four lanes wide. Robert Morris University's Sewall Center has also hosted meets in the past, but not this year because of scheduling conflicts.

Shorter, narrower tracks and confined spaces present different problems for athletes used to the wide-open expanses of six- or eight-lane outdoor tracks.

"You have to watch that somebody doesn't step out in front of you," said Shaler High School junior Jessica Zozos who won the 3,000-meter run at the TSTCA championships Friday at Slippery Rock. "You also have to shorten your stride some because of the tighter turns and the fact there isn't much of a straightaway. It's a little different running."

"[Running indoors] can wear on you mentally because there are so many laps because of the smaller tracks," said Central Catholic senior Scott Van Kooten, who won the boys' 3,000 at Slippery Rock.

For distance runners, however, indoor track is almost a must, said Mt. Lebanon High School boys' coach Mike Agostinella. It gives them a good mileage base heading into the outdoor season.

"The way the outdoor season is set up is that practice begins March 5 and you've only got a little over two weeks until the first meet.

"That's not enough time to get a good cardiovascular base," Agostinella said. "That's where, I think, the indoor season comes in. It gives them a chance to build that up."

Perhaps the best thing about indoor track is the low-key approach most coaches take. That doesn't mean athletes go into meets with an I-don't-care attitude. These just isn't the pressure to do well as there is outdoors.

"I try hard all the time, whether I'm outdoors or indoor," said Ambridge's Jonathan Kowal, who won the 400-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles at Slippery Rock. "But I know what you mean."

"You're asking for trouble if you take it too seriously," North Allegheny coach John Neff.

The knock against indoor track is that high school athletes can "burn out" when pushed from January until the outdoor season ends with the PIAA championships at the end of May.

When asked about the possibility of track burnout Neff said, "If you're going to error, that's where you error on the side of not doing enough with them."