Run Run Away

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While on a cruise this spring, I ran on the cruise ships track.  It also was 13 laps to the mile.  I managed to get in one run of a little over 16 miles and a couple of lesser mileage runs.  Believe me, it’s not the repetitive part of circling the track that’s hard.  It’s the hard turns and the people who just happened to walk onto it.  I was constantly dodging others.  And it was difficult to run a good pace on such a tiny circuit. Todd Thirteen laps to the mile. Are you counting the mile as exactly a mile or 1600m as a mile? Just curious, because I’m trying to figure out how long one track lap is on that cruise ship. If the track wasn’t banked, like indoor track should be, it’s hard to get a good pace. And yes, those turns are killer. I think I’d prefer to run on a treadmill than a track this small. I would have thought that if you run any real distance on a track this size you should probably reverse direction occasionally to avoid injury from running left hand turns all the time, as well. C

I mentioned the Hart House marathon, run on a 13.5 lap track? It was described as running around the inside of a barrel. The real danger was not the turns, which were aggressively banked, but the people who could not figure out how to fit into the traffic. Leaving aside the occasional 6′6" middle distance guy doing speed work (who didn’t have much option, in Toronto in the winter) and the occasional character who couldn’t figure out which direction to run in (signs with 6" letters, a flow of traffic coming head on, and the occasional scream of "run the other direction, you moron!" were too subtle, I guess), the greatest danger were a couple of …. gentlemen…. who ran very slowly, with a rigidly erect posture, side by side, having a nice little chat, and who threatened violence if anyone protested. (the track was, maximum about 3.5 people wide). Ah, the things I don’t miss about my youth….. BobMac

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While on a cruise this spring, I ran on the cruise ships track.  It also was 13 laps to the mile.  I managed to get in one run of a little over 16 miles and a couple of lesser mileage runs.  Believe me, it’s not the repetitive part of circling the track that’s hard.  It’s the hard turns and the people who just happened to walk onto it.  I was constantly dodging others. And it was difficult to run a good pace on such a tiny circuit. Todd Thirteen laps to the mile. Are you counting the mile as exactly a mile or 1600m as a mile? Just curious, because I’m trying to figure out how long one track lap is on that cruise ship. If the track wasn’t banked, like indoor track should be, it’s hard to get a good pace. And yes, those turns are killer. I think I’d prefer to run on a treadmill than a track this small. I would have thought that if you run any real distance on a track this size you should probably reverse direction occasionally to avoid injury from running left hand turns all the time, as well. C

I tried the treadmill on the ship and found it too hot in there.  Worse than a gym.  The brochure on the ship said the track was 13 laps to the mile. Since mileage isn’t a big concern to me, it wasn’t that important.  I’m far more concerned with speed and time on my feet.  As for reversing direction, I didn’t worry about it.  It was only for a couple of days.  Although the ship was outstanding, I doubt that I will ever go on a cruise ship again. I’d much rather see the sights on foot and stay in a hotel.  I can have my own schedule then rather than the cruise ship’s schedule and meet the local people rather than the people that are on the same tour. Todd

Response:

While on a cruise this spring, I ran on the cruise ships track.  It also was 13 laps to the mile.  I managed to get in one run of a little over 16 miles and a couple of lesser mileage runs.  Believe me, it’s not the repetitive part of circling the track that’s hard.  It’s the hard turns and the people who just happened to walk onto it.  I was constantly dodging others.  And it was difficult to run a good pace on such a tiny circuit. Todd

Thirteen laps to the mile. Are you counting the mile as exactly a mile or 1600m as a mile? Just curious, because I’m trying to figure out how long one track lap is on that cruise ship. If the track wasn’t banked, like indoor track should be, it’s hard to get a good pace. And yes, those turns are killer. C

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While on a cruise this spring, I ran on the cruise ships track.  It also was 13 laps to the mile.  I managed to get in one run of a little over 16 miles and a couple of lesser mileage runs.  Believe me, it’s not the repetitive part of circling the track that’s hard.  It’s the hard turns and the people who just happened to walk onto it.  I was constantly dodging others.  And it was difficult to run a good pace on such a tiny circuit. Todd Thirteen laps to the mile. Are you counting the mile as exactly a mile or 1600m as a mile? Just curious, because I’m trying to figure out how long one track lap is on that cruise ship. If the track wasn’t banked, like indoor track should be, it’s hard to get a good pace. And yes, those turns are killer.

I think I’d prefer to run on a treadmill than a track this small. I would have thought that if you run any real distance on a track this size you should probably reverse direction occasionally to avoid injury from running left hand turns all the time, as well. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – C

Response:

While on a cruise this spring, I ran on the cruise ships track.  It also was 13 laps to the mile.  I managed to get in one run of a little over 16 miles and a couple of lesser mileage runs.  Believe me, it’s not the repetitive part of circling the track that’s hard.  It’s the hard turns and the people who just happened to walk onto it.  I was constantly dodging others.  And it was difficult to run a good pace on such a tiny circuit. Todd

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last I heard, Hart House at the University of Toronto held an indoor New Year’s Day marathon on their track. 13 laps to the mile. 13 X 26.2 = they’re nuts! BobMac Didn’t someone on this newsgroup once mention how the old timers (as in runners in like 1900 or before) used to run marathons around 200 meter tracks… -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

Last I heard, Hart House at the University of Toronto held an indoor New Year’s Day marathon on their track. 13 laps to the mile. 13 X 26.2 = they’re nuts! BobMac – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Didn’t someone on this newsgroup once mention how the old timers (as in runners in like 1900 or before) used to run marathons around 200 meter tracks… -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

Geez…that’s not even 200 meters…more like 125 or so.  That’s just crazy. -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last I heard, Hart House at the University of Toronto held an indoor New Year’s Day marathon on their track. 13 laps to the mile. 13 X 26.2 = they’re nuts! BobMac Didn’t someone on this newsgroup once mention how the old timers (as in runners in like 1900 or before) used to run marathons around 200 meter tracks… -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

There are 48-hour indoor races even today. well there was one last year. Gemma-BVV 48-Hour Indoor Ultramarathon Brno, Czech Republic – 26-28 May 1999 Pete – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Geez…that’s not even 200 meters…more like 125 or so.  That’s just crazy. -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com Last I heard, Hart House at the University of Toronto held an indoor New Year’s Day marathon on their track. 13 laps to the mile. 13 X 26.2 = they’re nuts! BobMac Didn’t someone on this newsgroup once mention how the old timers (as in runners in like 1900 or before) used to run marathons around 200 meter tracks… -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

How do they handle the inevitable passing that will occur.  Seems like it would be a big hassle.  I recently ran a 5k race on the roads on a 1k loop. I was passing people before the second lap ended and by the 5 lap I had passed people multiple times.  It was really annoying as it meant I often had to take the turns wide and there also was the potential problem that someone could lie and say they ran all five laps when they had really only ran four.

Perhaps they’re using ChampionChips – most races seem to nowadays… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry. — http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

I run the half-marathon there a few weeks ago and yes passing is a slight problem on a few corners – however the internal roads in the park are quite wide and the field very small (only about 100) so not a huge worry. I just hope someone is counting laps for the marathon! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do they handle the inevitable passing that will occur.  Seems like it would be a big hassle.  I recently ran a 5k race on the roads on a 1k loop. I was passing people before the second lap ended and by the 5 lap I had passed people multiple times.  It was really annoying as it meant I often had to take the turns wide and there also was the potential problem that someone could lie and say they ran all five laps when they had really only ran four. -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry. — http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

Sri Chimoy does races here in NYC also and these races are not well attended. They may draw 20 runners. I don’t know about London but I’d be willing to guess they get the same numbers. They have lap counters for runners. But when they can’t get enough volunteers it up to the runners to count themselves. In order to take out any variety the course was a half mile up one side of a park lane, u-turn and back the other side. Yep that is 53 u-turns (the finish was around the last u-turn). Peace, Andy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do they handle the inevitable passing that will occur.  Seems like it would be a big hassle.  I recently ran a 5k race on the roads on a 1k loop. I was passing people before the second lap ended and by the 5 lap I had passed people multiple times.  It was really annoying as it meant I often had to take the turns wide and there also was the potential problem that someone could lie and say they ran all five laps when they had really only ran four. -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry. — http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

How do they handle the inevitable passing that will occur.  Seems like it would be a big hassle.  I recently ran a 5k race on the roads on a 1k loop. I was passing people before the second lap ended and by the 5 lap I had passed people multiple times.  It was really annoying as it meant I often had to take the turns wide and there also was the potential problem that someone could lie and say they ran all five laps when they had really only ran four. -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry. — http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

– http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

Hey don’t knock Battersea Park – running round a 1 mile loop may be boring but the Park ain’t and the series of races that Sri Chinmoy/Run & Become put on are always really friendly – they even have trophies down to 7th place! A fast flat course where you know that each mile marker is spot on – what more do you want? By the way, I live right next door to the Park and I will be doing the marathon next month (17th Sept). David

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Sri Chinnoy Marathon in London, I think in Battersea Park is run round a 1 mile loop !! Handy for your own support crew Steve I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry. — http://www.woldsvets.20m.com Running Club based in Grimsby, N.E.Lincs, England.

Response:

I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

  I’ve yet to run a marathon, but I can’t help thinking the New Orleans marathonwould be particularly boring. It starts on the north side of Lake Ponchartrain (or at least it did when I lived there many years ago), and 20 of its miles are (were?) run on the lake’s causeway. Twenty miles of running straight and flat over open water – no possible shade save clouds – woe betide you if there’s a headwind – and you spend half of it watching the city skyline wondering if it’s ever going to get there. Rich Lemert

Response:

i have run a simular course (Fred’s Marathon in Worcester, Massachusetts was run on a 5k course.)  I have never enjoyed the scenary in a marathon… the course provided adequate support, ample specatators (the hard-core families adopted other runners and served to cheer us on.)  If you want to run it, enjoy the positive side… you can always check to see if your lights are left on or your car is still there every 20-some-odd minutes!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

Didn’t someone on this newsgroup once mention how the old timers (as in runners in like 1900 or before) used to run marathons around 200 meter tracks… -jeff —                         Jeffrey Bigham             http://www.jeffreybigham.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response:

I was just checking the course for my local marathon (Amersfoort, Netherlands) and it appears that they intend to use a circuit for it – a 4800m circuit repeated some 8 or so times. Is this possibly the most boring marathon course ever thought up? Anyone know of a worse one – a marathon run on a running track, perhaps? Barry.

Response: