TrackTastic!!

I really enjoy track sessions (most of the time) even when they HURT (ummm, last week for example). While it can be boring and monotonous, I find that I like the repetitive nature of running in circles and having a true way to measure my pace lap for lap. Also, when I am on the track I can zone in on what I am doing and not worry about distractions like cars, road conditions, where I am turning next, etc.

Wednesday was another MAF test on the track. Basically, this is running at a specific heart rate and holding it for X amount of time or distance. The track allows consistency in terrain so we can see how my pace compares to previous sessions. I don't mind MAF tests and since numbers really turn me on, I like the data it provides (though Coach Awesome probably knows more about what to DO with this data than I...)

The weather in Maine has been crazy lately and the schools do not maintain the tracks during the winter months-
meaning if there is snow, there is no track for me.

The last couple sessions of "track work" have been done outside on a mile stretch of road or on the TM (not the same!!) so I was happy to literally get ON TRACK with my MAF test this week.

I usually run at one of two tracks locally at the high schools-one has a brand new rubber track and the other is an older, not so fancy and nice track (but where I went to high school many, many years ago...in a galaxy far, far away) so I opted for my alma mater.




The weather has been fantastic this week-70's and 80's-and I have been superpumped to be outside training! I donned my Pink*Star tri top (ala Hillary Biscay) and my favorite Kinvara's and hit the track.
Round and round and round.....and something strange started to happen.

The more I ran-the stronger I felt. My pace picked up and my HR stayed steady. My legs were strong, my form was good and my smile was getting bigger and bigger. WOOT!!!
Round and round and round we go...where she stops nobody knows.

Then high school students started filling the field and I recognised Mrs. G from MY DAYS at the high school and Mr. D, whom I graduated with 20 years ago. It was a typical high school gym class and they too were taking advantage of the weather by bringing the students outside. As much as I wanted to stop and say hello to both of them, I need to go go go and execute this run. I am sure they were wondering just how long this lady would be running on their track! (I'd been there a while already...)

As I was running, I really had to laugh at the irony. 20+ years ago when I was a student at this high school, my gym teacher Mr. H would have to fight with me to get me to run around that track during PE. I hated running, I hated gym and I would find any excuse in the world to skip running. Now here I was, in 80* weather, running miles and miles around and around this little track that I so despised in my youth. And I was doing this willingly and with a smile.
Round and round and round and round....How things change!

Then I saw a familiar face-my best buddy, Dawn (who teaches English at the high school). We exchanged hellos quickly and she said she'd return.
Round and round and round and round I go....

My MAF miles were done and it was time to cooldown. I then see a bunch of students sitting on the track with Dawn. As I ran by all of a sudden, they all broke out in super loud cheers!!

It was soooo cool and made me laugh! I cheered right back at 'em, threw my hands in the air Finish Line Style and gave 'em a woot! I kept on going, cool down in full effect and on Lap 2 and as I rounded the corner all these signs go up in the air!!

The signs were hilarious and packed with awesome! These were some of my favorites (though I loved each and every one of them!!)

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING...THE BEAST ZONE!

WARNING: Beast Running By

Run Forest Run!!

Unleash the Beast Girlfriend!

The Heat has NOTHING on you!

Just Keep Running, Just Keep Running 

~Jen the Jellyfish~

You're Still Jenny from the Block

GO HARD JEN

Finis and happy! Surrounded by motivational signs

thumbs up!!

All smiles and feeling great!

I was so touched that they would do this and it made me remember just how lucky I am to have such positive, supportive and awesome friends in my life. I can not think of a better way to end one of my best track sessions this season than with the encouraging cheers and motivational signs from Dawn and her class.

A big GIANT thank you to Dawn, Desiree, Justine, Victoria, Autumn, Stephen, Emma, Lydia, Anna, Vie, Christina, Cassandra, Thomas, Allison, Oliva H, Oliva J, Elyse, Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Amber Rose and every student who was there yesterday!!! You made my day just a little bit (ok A LOT) brighter!!

Wormy Circles

Last week I had another training day at the track.
Running the track is actually a new kind of training for me (told ya I was doing new, fun stuff) and I can actually count the number of times I have run on a track post high school-which is three, not including my last two prescribed track sessions.

It appears that rainy Wednesdays are really good days to run on the track or at least that is the way things are turning out! The previous week's 8.5 miler was just after torrential rains, but it was a balmy 60* and ended up being quite a nice run. I was dodging puddles and tons of earthworms- the rain brought out the little pink slimy guys and they were all over the track. I felt so bad for all the little buggers I crushed. And the sea gulls were crowding the lanes, having themselves a tasty morning snack. But I was running in shorts and a tee shirt in MAINE in NOVEMBER. This is epic stuff!! Plus, concentrating on what I was doing (HR zones) was distracting from the fact that I ran in wormy circles over and over again. I walked off the track feeling good and thinking, that did not suck.

The next track session was longer, a little more intricate and the weather was not as  friendly. It was barely 39*, drizzle to start and by the middle of my session it was full on RAINING.
Cold, wet rain.
My feet were wet, my hands were cold and I was really trying to nail the pace that Coach had set for me. I kept going out way too fast on the 800's so it was a cat and mouse game with the pace.
But at no time during this run did I think:
THIS SUCKS
I mean, yeah. Running on a track is not my first choice. Neither is running in the rain, and COLD rain at that.
While I was running though, I was thinking about my goals for 2012 and beyond. I was taking a walk down memory lane being at my High School and all (has it really been 20 years??? damn) and then I thought about change.

How much I have changed. How much my mental attitude has changed.

Just a few years ago I would not not walk from my front door to the car in the cold rain without complaining.
And here I was NOW.
Running 10 miles,
on a track,
in the cold, pouring rain.
There's a change for ya.
And I was doing this without prodding, without negotiation. I was doing this because I wanted to. Because I knew that this would make me better, stronger. I mean, no one training session is going to change you physically but jumping over those mental hurdles can.

So here's to doing something new
Stepping out of your comfort zone
And running in Wormy Circles

How did you bring POSITIVE change to your life recently??