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Machined

At the end of tonight’s track session, the coach deemed it too cold for outdoor cool-down, so we early finishers cooled down on the outside lanes of the track. As we got started, I suggested to the other guy that we go clockwise (i.e. “backwards”). He gave me an amused and disgusted look. “I don’t think I could turn right at this point, anyway.”

Then, after we’d made it a few strides, he continued, “I guess this is just the direction I’m threaded.”

Posted by pjm on February 7, 2007 10:25 PM |

Comments

Do they alternate directions at this track? At Minnesota Tuesday and Thursday are normal direction, MWF are opposite direction. Between going the wrong way and running in the outside lane it really is about effort, not hitting splits since I can’t work out where they are most of the time!

Posted by: Evan | February 8, 2007 11:20 AM

There’s no formal rules at this track for alternating directions, nor are there signs (like I’ve seen at some tracks) giving the distance per lap (and laps per mile) for each lane, both things which I think are positive contributions to the health of all runners doing any significant distance on an indoor track. A sometimes has her runners do workouts clockwise, but as varsity athletes they have priority and the coaches clear the inside lanes. The biggest danger of clockwise running is when the nets are down and you can’t see who’s around the corner!

Posted by: pjm | February 11, 2007 12:19 PM

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