Moonlit Tracking

Moonlit Tracking

At 0515 on Tuesday, 20 of Area51’s fleetest of foot took off into the gloom from 4 Mile Creek Greenway parking area and headed towards the South Charlotte Middle School track for the weekly #F3DevilsTurn.  Not only a few turns on the way there, but several loopty loops on the newly painted and moonlit track.

The THANG:

• 2nd F run for 1+ mi up Bevington to a Right on Coburn.  Some like to pick it up at 1mi, but YHC likes to wait until the Coburn uphill is in the rearview mirror.
• Pick a comfortable pace, hopefully find a running mate (someone to chase, someone to push, or someone to chat with), head up to the SCMS track.
• Do laps on the track until it’s time to head back REVERSE route to COT at 0610.  Generally means leaving the track between 0550 and 0555.
• Total miles were reported on Strava between 5.5mi and 7.5mi depending on how many track laps you get in.  Reports from –
  • Horsehead – https://www.strava.com/activities/299720704
  • Wing Man – https://www.strava.com/activities/299721833
  • Sanka – https://www.strava.com/activities/300144653
  • Bratwurst – https://www.strava.com/activities/299726447

The Moleskin:

• Always try to find a running mate (someone to chase, someone to push, or someone to chat with).  Makes the 1st F more tolerable, more of a challenge, and there’s safety in numbers from accidents and obstructions (speed bumps, directions, deer, school buses, etc.).  If a partner doesn’t formally develop, pick out a PAX faster than you and latch on for as long as you can. Kudos for Funky Cold for following Haggis, chatting it up, and still holding on to the pace for a long while.
• Try to have a goal – average pace, number of laps run at the track, compare to previous results (use a free program like Strava), picking out a PAX to run with for some 2nd F, etc.  Otherwise, it’s just a slog and that’s not always fun.  Having a goal gives you something intermediate to fix your mind to other than just thinking about how much longer you have to run.  Kudos for Wing Man who seems to have a “go one lap further” each week.
• Always a good pack for the 1st mile, but a big group held together this week while at the track. They were somewhat territorial and forced a toll for passing.  #sorrynowallet

Announcements:

• June 6th – NoDa Brewing 5K in the evening on Saturday.  Great family friendly event.  Several PAX including Prohibition and HoneyBee have HC’d.
• May 29th – #F3DeathMarch from Hill n Dale – F3’s new racing directors.  Check Twitter and Web site for details.
• New High Visibility F3 #ISI running shirt with reflective accents out soon on Mud Gear.  Area 51 option will also be available.