Track running goes autumnal

I run on the track every week if I can! But I don’t generally blog about it. I suppose it would be a bit dull for readers. Do they really care whether we run 800 m eight times, or a mile twice, 800 m twice, and 200 m four times? As these are the sort of exercises we do there. But this week, the trainers were taking pictures, and I thought that would be a nice prompt to write about it again. One might forget I do this!

I still quite enjoy the track running. I dislike the 200 meter distance, but all other distances I'm happy with. And I like trying to decide what speed I should be running at, and then keeping that speed. And I have built up a bit of a reputation of being able to keep a speed. It is really nice to be complimented on my pacing!

This time we indeed did 800 m eight times. And although it was a big group, quite some of the regulars were not there. But there was one of the ladies who has enjoyed my pacing before, and she was recommending someone who was there for the first time to do the same. So they lined up behind me. And there must have been a few more people there. It is always difficult to see who is behind you when you run! And when you rest between the 800 meter intervals, you do get to catch up with the people who were behind you, but sometimes you find you lost people, or people had tagged on that you hadn't been aware of.

Only very recently it had been very hot on the track. I remember being grateful for the shadows on the track being a bit longer with every lap. But these times are probably over! I did my warmup laps with a T-shirt over my vest, which I have done before. And highly unusually, I also did the drills we always do before the main event with that T-shirt on. And then I kept it on the entire time. That was the first! Autumn is here!

It was a good session! I enjoyed it. Not just the running, but also the appreciation of the people I have been pacing. I always like it when that goes well. And this will just go on all through winter!

Me pacing in my t-shirt

Evening light over the track