The Track

I have a certain love/hate relationship with the track.

It goes back to the days of high school track, of course, when lung-searing intervals were the norm. But there is still something primal about hitting the oval. Maybe it is memories of my somewhat faster days, maybe it is something in my mind that flips the metaphorical switch and sets me at a speed that is faster than I would do anywhere else. The benefits to fitness, of course, can't be ignored.

Tuesday morning is speed time, usually nice and cool here in Boise before things heat up. I can often find like-minded individuals to join me; today I was by myself. There were others doing their thing on the rubber, but they seemed to have their own agenda.

After a two mile warm-up, the task for the day was 4x1200 at just over 5K pace. The first is always the most uncomfortable and almost always the slowest; at 4:18, that would indeed be the case today. One lap recovery, ready again. 4:17, 4:15 and 4:13 followed, so the progression was in the right direction. Two mile cool down, and the total for the day was about 8.5 miles.

The Emmett Triathlon is this weekend, my first of the year. The proximity to Boise makes this race a must do. Plus, I won my entry fee back last year for having the fastest overall run split! I sure won't count on that happening again, but it sure felt good at the time (somehow, it still does)!