Running Cold

November is always the official start of coldness to me. November seems grey and chilly in my mind. At least outside. The leaves are mostly fallen. The grass has dulled from the brilliant green it was, to a dimmer more sullen green and brown. It's darker out in the morning, darker in the afternoon, and that means it's harder to motivate myself to get out of the house.

Last year was the first that I ran outside all winter. Not a lot mind you, but at least once a week. I had joined a group, the Onterora Runners Club, on their Monday night runs around Dietz stadium and its surrounding neighborhoods. It's a great group to run with, and knowing they were there got me out on some chilly nights. I attained some cold weather gear: gloves especially for running, insulated jackets, tall socks, and thermal leggings.

I've somehow drifted from the group. I could list excuses of my work hours changing, or rationalizations of Mondays being my most tiring day. Instead I'll just say that I do honestly miss it, and I hope the cold drives me to catch up with them.

When my alarm goes off now, it still seems to be nighttime. I slide out from the bed into the frigid air of my bedroom. I usually have my running clothes left out nearby, half laziness, half inspiration. I want to run, I really do. The cold and dark just works against me. But it's worth it after the first mile. That first one though, it's cold. My feet seem to hit the ground extra hard. My eyes water. My nose becomes a faucet that I can't control. My hands tense up and tighten and I realize I need to dig my gloves out of storage as soon as possible. No one else is out. A few cars. When I get to the track there are some walkers bundled up with hats and scarves. By mile three I can take my sweatshirt off.

It's only November 5th.

Bring on the cold.

Unless You Want to Pay Me to Babysit...

I've come to realize that running at the track in the morning is a little better than at night. Less people, and more of them seem to be rule followers.

The best thing. No kids. There haven't ever been any kids at the track when I go at 7am. When I go at night it's a whole different story. All of the sudden the track is a playground. It's one thing if a kid is walking with their parents - and by with I mean right next to them, in one lane. Different story if it's a kid or several kids just running wherever they want. The first thing has never happened. No kid at the track just is appt to run in a specific lane for several laps. Instead it's a kind of pandemonium.

One scenario is kids going around the track, kind of running across all the lanes. They fall behind their parents (who are sauntering slowly in the middle lanes), then run to catch up. There's lots of yelling and general loudness coming from them - from the kids and the parents usually. Not one of them seems to be aware of anyone else using the track. They drift into my lane right in front of me, and I'm forced to dodge around them while I get glares from the parents. I'm not going to step on your kids. Not if I can help it at least. Not yet anyway.

Another occurance is kids playing with toys on the track while their parents stand nearby. At least the parents are within range of them, I guess. These kids are playing with little frisbees, and none of them have good aim, or they aren't trying to have good aim. There are so many frisbees, and they are just everywhere. Again, the kids don't pay attention to anyone else. They don't stay in one place, I mean they're kids. I can't seem to avoid them no matter which lane. At one point I was forced to weave through them! I'm not sure I can explain it. Don't they have a yard near their house or something?

Keep your kids out of the way, or at least teach them to be aware of their surroundings. Please. Although maybe the parents can't teach what they don't do themselves...

Track Rules: Walk Tall (In the appropriate lane)

To keep the peace of the track, faster runners should use the inside lanes, and slow walkers should use the outside lanes. Pretty simple, right?

Hahaha.

Instead, people decide randomly. People walking by themselves seem to scatter to whichever lane their heart desires. No matter whether they are strolling or speed walking, they could be anywhere. Not only that, they change lanes! Apparently, it is very hard to remember how many times they have been around the track, so they have to switch lanes every time around to keep tally.

I'm going to remind you again that I'm not racing around the track at a breakneck pace. I keep to the third or fourth lane (closer to the inside, but not close enough that I'll get in a faster runner's way). Each time I go to the track I am determined to be able to stay in my lane the whole time. Instead, I'm almost constantly having to run around people as the mosey around. I'll actually make sure and pick a lane that no one is using, but by the time I've done a half mile, someone is ahead of me IN MY LANE. What are you doing in lane four? You can see that I've been running in this lane for several laps. There is at least one lane NO ONE IS USING! GO THERE! WALK OVER THERE!

I just took a moment to calm down. Sorry about all the capitals. I got carried away.

Do you understand my frustration though? I'm running at a steady nine to ten minute mile pace, in one lane, for about 30 minutes. I pick a lane that no one else is using. Yet, people seem determined to ignore me and wander over into my lane. Then they walk. Slowly. So, even at my not-so-fast pace, I catch up to them and have to move around them and then back into my lane. Unless I switch to the other empty lane. Sometimes I do that, only to have another couple people decide to walk in that new lane.

Can I clarify here that most of these times there are only about ten people on the track. Eight of these people are walking. One guy is running in lane one. Then there's me. Why are so many people moving into my lane?! Leave me and my lane alone! I would like to just run without any obstacles. Is that such a big deal?

Please walkers. Pick one lane from lanes five, six, seven, or eight. Walk in that lane. Stay in the lane until you are done with your walk. It's not difficult. If you're having trouble counting your number of laps, just find some other creative way to remember. Is it that hard to count in your head? Stay out of my lane.

Track Rules: Keep Your Sports to Yourself

Why are there rules for running on a track? Well I actually just tried to look that up, and couldn't find a very specific article to quote. I'll just put it my way then. There are rules for running on a track because it makes it more enjoyable and convenient for everyone, and apparently it helps the track not get worn out so fast. These rules are not very complicated. Three days a week everyone goes clockwise, and the other days, we all should go the opposite way. The inside lanes are for faster runners, and the outside ones are for walkers. Why does everyone seem to find this so complicated? Or, no one finds it difficult to follow, they just don't care and selfishly do whatever they want.

I run on the track because its close to where I live, I don't have to worry about traffic, and I like to pretend that it's easier on my feet and knees. The measurements on the track make it easier to run intervals, and to have a better idea of how far I've gone and how fast (without having to check my phone or watch).

Unfortunately, every time I go to the track I am confronted with the fact that no one really gives a damn about anyone else. It's the "I'll do what I want" attitude, and it frustrates me to no end! I'm not sure I can fit all my snobbery into this one post. Lately running over at the stadium has just been driving me nuts. I run to de-stress. I run to cool off. I don't want to run over people, but I will.

I first especially noticed this people-problem when I was running at night. The track becomes a free for all once it gets dark. The middle field is completely filled with several different groups playing various sports: football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, etc. This is fine. I don't need to use the turf, so I don't really care what happens there. It does start to bother me when balls and people roll out in my way. One night, I actually had to dodge out of the way before I got hit in the head. Maybe you should learn to play somewhere else. Maybe there should be more public parks that are open at night so soccer players can relocate themselves somewhere where I will not be running. Why is the track the only well lit field in town? Maybe that's a question for another time?

These sports people also don't know how to exit the track in a considerate way. They will slowly gather their belongings, and then drift out onto the track in groups. I guess they realize they still have some things to discuss, so they stop mid-track to talk about these (very important) issues. Do they move when they see me coming? No. And I'm not exactly flying along. They have plenty of time to shift to one side or another. Instead, they just watch as I run all the way around them, sometimes having to go outside of all of the lanes to pass them. Seriously?

Please feel free to play your games on the green space of the track. Contain them to that space! I don't run onto the field and get in your way! I keep myself and my stuff in a tiny little lane. Don't expect me to kick a ball back to you. Keep your balls as far away as possible.