Thursday Track Report: Plaque Buildup

Details

Written by Bwana Bwana

February 10, 2011

Bwana spied the twitterings and twitchings of tufted titmice through the window of his retreat. Everything is aching for Spring, but the track is still buried under snow and we're all stuck in a deep freeze. But, having gone since New Years without a significant thaw, Winter may be at least starting to rehearse its swan song. Next week will be warm enough to MAYBE thaw the outdoor track. In the mean time, John Domico, Jim Moore, John Sheakoski, Lance Bland, Judd Michael, Costas Maranas, Randy Jepson, Marty Klanchar, Ken Davis, Mike Casper, Jon Thurley, Andy Maguire, Michael Goldfine, Tim Spigelmyer, Jen Thistle, Esther Prins, Jerry Steffy, Joel Niemann, newcomer Cory Neff, Jim Laudermilch, Kevin Becker, Ron Cunfer, Rob Peterson, Mark Traband, Dana Todd, Lucy Liu, and Marty Mazur headed for the MSF to try to blast of the buildup of winter crud in their legs and lungs.

Bwana was feeling "Pre-Springlike" and warned the Crew that he was giving a killer workout. It was 2-person 12X200 relays. This is a low recovery workout similar to the NX3X300 except for a couple of things: The distance is about 80 yards shorter and HENCE people go faster; They get more recovery time, and HENCE they go faster. BUT (and, like Bwana's, it's a big but-t) it's not broken into sets. You don't get a big break after a bunch of little ones. It's a grind, and if you start too fast, you really pay. But the Crew found their groove and most said that they started seeing hope at about lap 9. There was a lot of blue smoke hanging in the air, but Bwana thinks the treatment worked.

There's hope and there's hopeless. Some people seem to just hang up their cleats all winter. The turnout was good today, but there were a few missing links. Tom Cali was buffing his appreciation plaque and spending the $10 NVRC dues that he no longer has to fork over every year. Bob Cornwall was also buffing his plaque, this from the leftover Christmas cookies he's been hiding in his desk. Greg Dillon was flossing his plaque and grooming his back all in one operation. And Marv Hall was working on some REAL plaque, in the Ag barns. (I thought he was a soils guy?) 

Thursday Track Report: Climbing A Rope Ladder Without Falling Off

Details

Written by Bwana Bwana

January 27, 2011

A nice crew for almost-February braved their way to the MSF track. Bwana thought that the group might be a little light today because those competing in tomorrow's Indoor Mile would not want to wear themselves out. But only one or two of the Thursday Trackers who showed up today are planning to run the event, yet we still had well over 20 people show up: Tom Cali, Judd Michael, Bob Cornwall, Ken Davis, John Sheakoski, Costas Maranas, Dave Moore, Randy Jepson, Jon Oatley, Dean Capone, Ron Cunfer, Esther Prins, Michael Goldfine, Adam Smith, Lee Culver, Jerry Steffy, Dana Todd, Jen Thistle, Joel Niemann, Andy Maguire, Rob Peterson, Nadine Knobnees, and Marty Mazur all made it down.

Despite the lack of Indoor Milers at the Track today, Jerry Steffy reported that he expects a record turnout for tomorrow afternoon's meet. Over 40 are signed up! And maybe some Club records will fall, too! Bwana used the fact that nobody present (except himself and Jerry) needed to conserve energy, and gave a long and challenging workout: an upward ladder of 1-2-3-4-5 laps where the goal in each step is to maintain or surpass your pace on the previous step. Bwana warned everyone to start slow, and most did, but by that 4-lapper the goal was getting harder and harder.

Today's Crew set some goals. Some made it, some didn't, but all gained from the workout. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single slow step. But some in Bwana's fold can't even make that first step out of the office chair or barcalounger lately. Marv Hall was busy foraging around in the Penn State barns for some high-fiber muffins. John Domico, who has taken his barber off retainer, was sticking his head in the ball polisher at Northland Lanes. Greg Dillon was busy filling out the paperwork to have himself officially designated "Angora". Tom Hilands and George Lesieutre were holding a ladder for Jim Moore so he could spray paint something about "Bwana's Ladder's Suck" on an overpass.

Thursday Track Report: Winter Blues

Details

Written by Bwana Bwana

February 3, 2011

Winter's starting to get to us. This one has been unusual in that there has been no mid-winter thaw. While most winters see the temperature occasionally get into the high 40s or low 50s for at least a few days, temperatures this year have been below 40, and mostly much colder than that, since the New Year. But just as President Obama is touring the country trying to revive the economy and thaw his poll numbers, John Domico, Jim Moore, Bob Cornwall,  Marty Klanchar, Judd Michael, Randy Jepson, Jonathan Thurley, Jerry Steffy, Michael Goldfine, Jon Oatley, Dana Todd, Kirk Rager, John Laudermilch, Kevin Becker, Joel Niemann, Esther Prins, Bree Studenka, John Wilcock, and Marty Mazur headed to the track to try to melt away the mid-Winter blues.

Bwana was surprised at the turnout, since most runners had to do some unaccustomed maneuvering to avoid the President's security closings and blockages. Bwana gave the much-beloved NX3X300 workout to warm the runners' spirits.

Jerry Steffy reports that this weekend's Indoor Mile Series finale will feature a record 5 heats, 4 of the mile (including a Ladies Only heat) and one of the 3K. Obviously, some people train even in winter. Not included in that lot are Marv Hall, who counts chickadees at his bird feeder over lunch; Greg Luna is working on his backyard martini luge; Greg Dillon is combing pomade through his winter coat; and Tom Cali is going around to all his unsold houses and "checking the pipes"!

Thursday Track Report: Snow Angels

Details

Written by Bwana Bwana

January 20, 2011

OK, So Bwana thought we were in the depressing part of Winter last week. Well, Winter was just getting warmed up! John Domico, Tom Cali, Judd Michael, Greg Dillon, Bob Cornwall, Ken Davis, Marty Klanchar, Randy Jepson, Dana Todd, Kevin Becker, Rob Peterson, Adam Smith, Jon Oatley, Jerry Steffy, Mark Traband, Michael Goldfine, Esther Prins, newcomers Jen Thistle and Bree Studenka, John Wilcock, Joel Niemann, and Marty Mazur headed for the track in a flurry.

Bwana kept a lid on the bluster so he could greet the newcomers, Jen Thistle and Bree Studenka. Jen's made a couple of our Group Runs and likes trail running. And Bree just signed up for the NVRC listserve. To make sure their track baptism was not a dunk in an icy pond, Bwana gave a relay workout: 2-person 6X2 laps. That's a tough one; 2 laps is a bit over a quarter-mile. The Crew ploughed into the workout, and it wasn't long until the newbies got the drift.

Bwana's giving a frosty look toward Ron Cunfer and Lee Culver. He knows that any excuses they give are a snow job. Dave DeGroote is on some flaky running program that apportions his runs so as to avoid speed work. Bwana might let Tom Hilands and Jim Moore skate, since they made it last week. But he'd have to shovel himself out of a huge pile if he bought the excuses of Matt Soccio and John Pringle!