Track training etiquette

hisholinessnb

As per other posts, my marathon training is moving to a running track.
I've never trained on the track before, whats the big no-no's for sharing a track with others?
One thing I thought was if I am to run 20 miles on a track, would it make sense to switch directions every few miles so I am not turning on the one side all the time.
But if I am training while others are there is that like driving the wrong way down a one way street?? :eek:

dont wanna P people off.

emerald007

who advised you to run 20miles on a track? that you about about 80 laps on the inside lane - which sounds mad.

RoyMcC

hisholinessnb wrote: »

As per other posts, my marathon training is moving to a running track.
I've never trained on the track before, whats the big no-no's for sharing a track with others?
One thing I thought was if I am to run 20 miles on a track, would it make sense to switch directions every few miles so I am not turning on the one side all the time.
But if I am training while others are there is that like driving the wrong way down a one way street?? :eek:

dont wanna P people off.

First, PLEASE don't try to run 20 miles on a track - you will quickly end up going crazy. I've not read your other posts for your reasons but I can't think of any which would drive you to these extremes.

No harm in doing some of your work on a track though - it would usually be used for interval training. If you do

1. Keep out of the inner lanes - no point in wearing them out when the outer lanes are available.
2. Avoid busy club sessions if possible (often Tues/Thurs evening & Sat morning).
3. Only change direction and run clockwise if there are no other track users about - it could get very messy.

Good luck.

gerard65

hisholinessnb wrote: »

As per other posts, my marathon training is moving to a running track.
I've never trained on the track before, whats the big no-no's for sharing a track with others?
One thing I thought was if I am to run 20 miles on a track, would it make sense to switch directions every few miles so I am not turning on the one side all the time.
But if I am training while others are there is that like driving the wrong way down a one way street?? :eek:

dont wanna P people off.

Just us the outside lanes!

thirtyfoot

Running the wrong way if there are other people there will probably see you being very unpopular!!!!

hisholinessnb

Basically until now I've been training on the roads. And the roads around me are hilly. And I've been having back problems so need to get onto softer ground.

Theres a cross country track in Alsaa (I work nearby) but I dont know the distance.
To be honest I cant see myself doing the big big runs on the track, will do most on the cross country track when I find out the distance.
But when the weather is very wet and the cross country isnt suitable the track may come into play.

hisholinessnb

Tingle wrote: »

Running the wrong way if there are other people there will probably see you being very unpopular!!!!

yeah I thought that, but is it ok if nobody else is using it?
I dont want angry groundsmen coming over and telling me I'm doing it wrong!

Running Bing

hisholinessnb wrote: »

Basically until now I've been training on the roads. And the roads around me are hilly. And I've been having back problems so need to get onto softer ground.

Theres a cross country track in Alsaa (I work nearby) but I dont know the distance.
To be honest I cant see myself doing the big big runs on the track, will do most on the cross country track when I find out the distance.
But when the weather is very wet and the cross country isnt suitable the track may come into play.

Surely if your near ALSAA there are flat places you can run?

20 miles on track is ridiculous....I often see people doing easy runs around the track and I dont know how they can do it. If you do end up going that route just dont use the inside three lanes and I know Irish town dont like you using the outside lane either so just pick one of the other lanes and run there.....but again I dont think its a good idea.


p.s. Do you know about www.mapmyrun.com?

hisholinessnb

Thanks for the info, its more so getting onto softer ground, not just the hills, once I find out the distance of the cross country track I'll use that instead and the track for shorter runs.

Peckham

There's plenty of flat bits in Phoenix Park that you could use for your longer runs....am sure one of the Phonenix Park experts here could direct you to a one or two mile flat loop. 20 laps of a one mile loop beats 80 laps of a 400m track!

If ALSAA is near you, then Malahide Estuary would be a good option also. The pathway from the recycling centre there down into Malahide must be at least 2.5miles long. Pretty scenic also (by Dublin standards!).


...but the major issue for me would be - if you do all your training on flat ground, then the hills in the marathon (assuming it's Dublin) will cause you problems.

hisholinessnb

Agree with you point re the hills, but the problem is that I live in Meath and ALL my runs at the moment involve big hills. Of course when I start training on the flat I'll still keep one or two a week on the hills back home but it was doing ALL my runs on the hills that has me struggling with my back.
This will just balance it out.

tunney

Longest track session I'd heard of was 40x400m

donothoponpop

hisholinessnb wrote: »

Agree with you point re the hills, but the problem is that I live in Meath and ALL my runs at the moment involve big hills.

Meath is one of the flattest counties? There's plenty of scope for flat runs. What do you consider a hill? I'm not being funny here, but I really doubt you got a bad back from uphill running in Meath

hisholinessnb

Its a big county, the roads around my village are quite hilly.
Its not to do with what I consider a hill, I consider a hill a hill

I dont know if the hills have given me the back problems, but with the high mileage all on the roads, the hills wont help.
So this is why I'm planning to move to softer and flatter ground for some of my runs.
And I have access to the Alsaa grounds and showers, so why not use them eh!

shels4ever

If your doing a 20 miler near the airport, it would be worth your while driving to malahide castle, you'd get a 5-6 mile loop in, it would be far better then the track .

silverside

there are grass loops round Alsaa (ask Clonliffe guys) and round UCD.
Or you could just run up and down Phoenix Park till the cows come home.
Get a garmin which will help you pace yourself.