against the grain

for all the years that i've spent on the track, i've always been taught as well as seen executed, a specific track etiquette. faster runners stick to the inside lanes, slower runners to the outside lanes, run counter-clockwise and when you're not running, you keep off the track.

last night, i had a really great 10x800m workout on the books. i showed up at corona del mar high school at about 4:30 and started into my warmup, about 2 miles, running counter clockwise on the outer lanes. i was the only person on the track, but as my warmup came to a close, a couple other folks, obviously from the neighborhood, showed up and started walking and jogging the track. clockwise. in the proper lanes.

i dove into the intervals, hitting my pace and feeling really good. about a third into the workout, though, a guy showed up on the track, running hard in the number two lane...running clockwise. it wasn't too bad, since there was still some light in the sky and i could avoid him, but i kept thinking to myself, "is from some country where they run clockwise on the track?". i just put it down to someone wanting to mix up his direction to prevent injury.

but then more and more people began showing up and running clockwise, in all lanes (except the #1). there were still about half of the people on the track following normal track etiquette, but the numbers of the anarchists was growing. during my recovery 200's, i would step into the 3 or 4 lane to jog, and would have to dodge the oncoming runners. as the light grew dim, it became quite hazardous with a couple really close calls. one of the turns, the light was right in my eyes and i couldn't see anyone oncoming until the last second. but, while in lane 1, i didn't have any problems, so i wasn't too frustrated. just more puzzled.

when i finished the intervals, i started into my cool down and moved out to the #9 lane, jogging along comfortably. at this point, there were about 30-40 of these folks either running the track clockwise or standing in big groups at one of the turns in lanes 9-5. each lap, i'd have to dodge the oncoming runners and weave in and out of the folks just standing around, chatting. they'd never take the initiative to move or even give notice that you were coming. the infuriating thing was that there was a HUGE cemented area right next to the track where they COULD have stood and stretched and bs'ed.

with each revolution i became more and more frustrated. i finally wanted to find out who these people were who had so little disregard for thier fellow runners, safety and common courtesy. as i jogged through the pack on the track, i asked who they were with and got no response. no response. wtf, mate? when i finished up my cooldown, i was finally able to shout a query to one of the runners and find out the name of their track club.

i took the time this morning to email my concerns to their organizer and i'm hoping that their routine can be explained so i can decide whether to return to that track or find a new place to run...because i sure don't want to subject myself to that sort of experience again. i get enough of that chaos from the group swim, thankyouverymuch.

updates

so, i've been a bad blogger. this poor page has sat unchanged for far too long. maybe i should have picked up the NoMoPloBloDayGlow challenge and done the blog a day thing. or not. so, weeks have gone by without a real update on the goings on around chez smith.

well, let's bullet point and move through the plethora of items so i can get back on the wagon with normal blogging.

the girls. well, we'd been continuing visitation with them with the intent of developing enough of a relationship that the courts would place them with us. mom went and requested they be transferred to the same county that she's residing in, though, and the new case worker for the girls in the new county has refused our request for continued visitation. so, it's hard to determine if this is a shut door, or if we should continue to pursue them. did i say before that this was an emotional roller coaster? yeah...just a bit.

smsmh. well, she's been banging the heart gallery drum for quite a while, gearing up for a huge february event. it promises to be a great fund raiser, if everyone cooperates and pulls their own weight. smsmh and i also celebrated 12 bliss filled years this past monday. our gift to each other? massages.

training. i slumped, i soared, i slumped and i soared again. but i pulled out of the doldrums and have been running hard and strong for the past month+. i joined jess on an AMAZING 22 mile trail run through the santa ana mountains a couple weeks ago and have been cruising long runs in the high teens. i addition, the bike has been another solid form of transportation to and from work, allowing me to use my commute as training. add in a monthly lake swim and a couple pool swims a week and i'm setting a really good base for...

racing. twin peaks in february and then boston is coming up in april, so i'll be plateauing the running in preparation for that, but then it's completely focusing on the tri. i'm planning on the wildflower half iron in may, a century or two during the summer/early fall and then my A race for the year, ironman florida. yup. i'm registered. i got a spot. so, here we go.

oh...and who knew that a full hour of full body deep tissue could be so painful.

doubt

doubt.

it's a funny thing. doubt is defined as 'the state of being unsure of something' or 'uncertainty about the truth or factuality of existence of something'. doubt can create distrust. doubt can lead to widespread rumour. doubt can foster fear of the unknown. doubt remains until concrete proof is provided. even with faith, there is an element of doubt.

i doubt.

i really do doubt.

i doubt that people believe how leaky i am. i believe that doubt of my leaky nature has led people to distrust me. i believe that doubt of my leaky nature has led to widespread rumour about me. i believe that doubt of my leaky nature has led to fear of me.

well. let me dispel the doubt. once and for all. i provide you with PROOF.