Anyone else find it easier to recover from doing tempo run on track? I am very amused by this and thinking there maybe a catch somewhere that I've not calculated that may end up backfiring later (e.g., injury). I am thinking it is the surface because the track I run has very good surface. Some days, I am better recovered next day than doing a distance run on the road.
Yes, I find recovery a little a better coming off the track. I live in a hilly area, and I often do LT work at the track. The recovery is good, and I like being able to compare my results. When injured, I have even done long runs at the track (12 miles or so). Use of the very outer edge of lane eight will cut down the number of laps, and alternating directions will break up some of the monotony. The track is very useful for a number of things...even for just breaking up the constant up and down of hills.
I usually do loops around a large grass field for tempos, fartleks, and LT intervals. Easy on the legs but not as monotonous as doing a 4-6 miles of work on the track every week.
outsiderunner wrote:
alternating directions will break up some of the monotony
This would not go over well at most tracks I've been on, unless you're totally alone.
Heck, I know some road racers that do their Tempo runs on a treadmill. (keeps your pace even and you can watch ESPN)
It'll be a bit boring, but its better than nothing. I've tempo'ed on an indoor track in the winter a few times, you'll prob end up going faster than you would on the road.
Interesting point, You Are…
Usually, I am alone. As I mentioned above, I run on the very outer edge of lane eight, and so I had not been thinking it would bother anyone, but it diid cross my mind. Thus far, no one has objected.
It's best to do it on a NASCAR track.