And It Got Cold

I actually really enjoy winter running... if the sidewalks are clear. Unfortunately, when there is snow, even a wee bit of snow, the sidewalks could be icy. Then again, they could not be. Since I don't have the time or energy to walk the entire path to Lake of the Isles (I can safely assume the lake path is alright), Last night I decided to go running at the indoor track at the YWCA like I did last winter.

The indoor track that I run on is the upper level track - that track is 1/6 of a mile. The floor track is used in the Indoor Triathlon - that track is 1/8 of a mile around. Over in the upper right of the picture, where the vending machines are, is where they give out the free coffee and string cheese on race day.

Because I have the first Indoor Triathlon of the season on Decmeber 2 at the Midtown YWCA, it it certainly a good idea to get in some indoor running practice, whether or not I run indoors for the rest of the season.

Besides just being a temperate and dry place to run, the Indoor Track at the YWCA is a great place for people watching. Last year I saw a pair of idiot parents let their kids rollerskate there. I mentioned it to the trainer on duty and she took off running to stop it. Of course there are also the folks who are walking around the track speaking on their cell phones loudly in Arabic. I don't speak Arabic so I don't know what they're talking about, but you can always tell when their conversations become important, because they stop and stand there in the middle of the track to say whatever it is they're saying. I figure I could get irritated, or just jog around them. I choose the latter.

Last night's run reminded me that running on the indoor track is slightly different from running outdoors, and I will need to work my way up to the mileage I'm used to outdoors.

In a related story, I have signed up for a Christmas Day 5K. It's at Como Park, and I plan to take the bus. Because there will most likely not be a gear check, I plan to dress in a utilitarian fashion and grin and bear any cold that I feel on the way in and way out. I'll probably wear the Monster Dash jacket, that bad boy is actually pretty warm - and yet it breathes. If you are reading this and will be participating in the afforementioned race and do have wheels, I would of course appreciate a ride, but I am not harboring any expectations there.