Track Session Almost Ruined by Jogger Love-In

amusing story

10/10

fool for fodder wrote:

amusing story

10/10

I know people think everything here is just trolling but this genuinely happened and I suspect that it's not that uncommon.

Running is basically being ruined by PEDs at the top and social joggers at the bottom who don't care or even understand the concept of having any sort of ambition to run fast. They just smile at each other and praise somebody for running very slowly. So in a way running's accessibility is both it's strength and weakness.

this sort of thing is not at all uncommon. If its nice weather here, all the tracks will be taken up by hobby joggers, especially on the weekend. Sometimes its just a few and you can work around them, other times you're better off moving your workout to a soccer field or doing it in the outside lanes if they're just clogging up the inside 2-3.

You're so damn salty I'm craving some french fries.

So you had to modify your workout because some joggers were out having a good time. Boo hoo. Sounds like only about half of your workout was "ruined," so I'm sure you'll still be ready to break 1:30 next weekend.

The sport is what you make it. There will always be competitive races, there will always be people jogging for fun, and there will always be cheaters. Focus on yourself and you'll be happy. Maybe as happy as those joggers.

One question: who leaves work early for a track workout? That's pretty lame. Or did you do that just so you could brag to Carol as you were walking out the door

Had this happen to me a few weeks ago. 'Phone-Walkers' (who talk on their phone and walk very slowly in lanes 1-3) were at the local track. I called 'TRACK' 'on your left' etc many times. One woman even said I 'should get out of her way' (I think that is what she yelled at me). The weird thing is, there is a perfectly quiet neighborhood to walk around across the street, or even walking around the new pedestrian paths at the high school would be more interesting than walking laps around a track.

Spring time like this, I've pretty much given up on finding a track to use that doesn't have tons of people on it. I've resorted to finding stretches of local trails that are marked each 1/2 mile and using those for intervals of 1/2 to 2 miles. It's basically impossible to assume you can go to a track and get un-interrupted use of lane 1 like that. I save the track work for 200s or 400s, that way I can at least use the stagger lines and run in lane 5 or 6 to get the right distance and not have to zig-zag around those in the first 2 lanes.

I feel your anger. It happens to all of us I'm sure. The track is now a gymnasium for people to walk, sit, spit, stretch, do abs, set up chairs to watch soccer, leave your gym bag in lane 1...etc.

The track is a circuit for speed, the only reason to be on a track is when you're aiming for a time/pace/effort.

It's like one of us going to a baseball practice and deciding to do a few laps walking the bases.

Lover of motor carriages wrote:

I feel your anger. It happens to all of us I'm sure. The track is now a gymnasium for people to walk, sit, spit, stretch, do abs, set up chairs to watch soccer, leave your gym bag in lane 1...etc.

The track is a circuit for speed, the only reason to be on a track is when you're aiming for a time/pace/effort.

You've summed it up. Seriously I just think it's totally disrespectful and shows a contempt for anybody trying to put in a hard session.

I remember getting interrupted by the soccer team warming up back in High School. I was trying to bust out sub 60 400's and these clowns come on and treat the place like their own.

Thankfully nowadays I'm not seeking to run so fast so don't visit the track as often but I really expected better from a bunch of runners.

Sometimes I wonder about our sport, we allow it be abused in so many ways, At it's best, it's one of the finest sports in the world and there is nothing quite as pure.

Why so bitter bro's? ?

Lover of motor carriages wrote:

It's like one of us going to a baseball practice and deciding to do a few laps walking the bases.

Except you're not at practice. You're just some dude throwing the ball into the air and trying to hit it into the outfield.

i hear you.i've run people over, been tripped, been clipped, had workouts ruined. i ran into someone this weekend when I was running a tempo in lane 9 (lane 9 clockwise!) and there were only 10-12 people at the track, most doing 100m sprints. The person's boyfriend started yelling at me like it was my fault.....it sucks in your case, but here's what you do:GPS watch, run in a different lane and just use the gps distance for your interval. It's better on your body and not liek you needed to be in lane 1 for a half marathon workout. Do it in the outer lanes or on the roads.you only had a mile and an 800m left. NDB, just be the better person and move on. Maybe calmly tell someone the standard policy about lane 1. older people generally understand these thingsrelaxhere ya go (honestly, just use the track for no stops and consistent terrain and use gps for distance, it's super easy):lane 2 as 407.67 meterslane 3 as 415.33 meterslane 4 as 423 meterslane 5 as 430.66 meterslane 6 as 433.38 meterslane 7 as 446 meterslane 8 as 453.66 meters

Lover of motor carriages wrote:

It's like one of us going to a baseball practice and deciding to do a few laps walking the bases.

It is possible to reserve a baseball diamond, you are not allowed to reserve a track.

benfosterthepeople wrote:

Lover of motor carriages wrote:

It's like one of us going to a baseball practice and deciding to do a few laps walking the bases.

Except you're not at practice. You're just some dude throwing the ball into the air and trying to hit it into the outfield.

Well I guess it would be more like 2 or more baseball players hitting and pitching and you barging in because it's not an "official practice"

Regardless the baseball field is for baseball, the basketball court for basketball and the track is for running fast.

We need more threads like this. Thank you OP

#1 800-mile-2 mile-mile-800 is not speed work.

It's either Hard Interval Training or Tempo work depending on VO2 Max.

#2 True Speed Work is 80 meter repeats, short hills, rope jumping, bounding or other related stuff. 10 X 100 can actually be speed endurance because even over a 100 you will slow down. Broken up into segments it could be speed work.

#3 I still remember having the ability you possess. It can be frustrating to have what happened to you happen. No doubt that is true!

#4 Someday you will also be a "coffin dodger" and 12 minute miles will feel like you are having a heart attack. Have a little compassion.

#5 Now you know that you will have to prepare for this kind of eventuality.

Rod Dixon (star of multiple distances - mile, 5K, 10K, marathon...look him up on the web) claimed to never use a watch. Perhaps you need to consider that. Be adaptable, besides it also takes a lot of patience to make it in distance running. Base building is most crucial. Run by feel and do not leave your best race in practice. It takes time to build a champion if you are an average person. One bad day should not matter very much!

#6 There is a lot to learn about running.

*Relaxation is crucial to fast running: Try running sprint-float-sprint sessions as sprinters do. Talk to a top sprint coach. "You might be surprised at what you find."

*Acceleration is necessary because you never know what will happen in a race and it is good for speed development. Perhaps when you do a 5 mile tempo run you could slide in some 25 meter accelerations where you quickly change to 95% of your top speed, then return to tempo pace.

*Even 2:04 marathoner Ryan Hall did a speed development day every week as I described. His Dad was his high school coach.

*Are you running over 100 miles per week? This may be too much but remember that the long run will develop all three energy systems including the ATP-PC system. Perhaps you need to increase the length of your long run to over 2 hours and put some recovery runs of 2-5 miles easy on a regular basis. Recovery runs serve a purpose, that is why Prefontaine did one like brushing his teeth every morning!!!

Missing from your rant is you actually talking to "team Sheila" and asking them if they wouldn't mind leaving lane one clear while you finished up your workout. It even sounds like one of her friends was polite enough to let you know what was going on and what to expect. I've found most people are pretty chill and are happy to accomodate you if you just ask.

I'm guessing these looks of bewilderment were imagined and that, instead of interacting with this group like a normal human being, you started writing this Letsrun post in your head as you cursed this group and everyone else holding you back.

Also, I love how you portray your track workout as some noble pursuit furthering this "pure" sport.

Thanks man, appreciate the empathy and advice. I've calmed down, can't afford to stress over it with a race coming up.

Lover of motor carriages wrote:

benfosterthepeople wrote:

Except you're not at practice. You're just some dude throwing the ball into the air and trying to hit it into the outfield.

Well I guess it would be more like 2 or more baseball players hitting and pitching and you barging in because it's not an "official practice"

Regardless the baseball field is for baseball, the basketball court for basketball and the track is for running fast.

What are the minimum speed requirements for a track? Is it based on actual speed or is at a measurement of effort? I'd like to get the signs made and posted at tracks around the country as soon as possible.