Running 1:01:16 [1] 10.56 km (5:48 / km) +51m 5:40 / km
shoes: 202005 Saucony Escape TR4
Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing; BigWillyStyle suggested that we do a track workout today, so there I was. Overruling his more masochistic suggestions, I settled on 8x400 with 60s breaks, as I didn't think longer intervals would be particularly productive for me now.
My target pace was 1:50/400 given my recent, painfully sad, performance. I was ok with anything in the 1:45-1:50 range. It had rained earlier in the day, so the track crowd was lower than usual. Another benefit was that it was fairly cool, with a temperature of 24 C and a dew point of 20. After my first interval, I made a conscious effort to slow down. I concentrated on keeping a quick cadence, holding good posture, and relaxing my upper body. I felt pretty good and briefly considered doing two more intervals, but prudence is the better part of valor, and consistency is more important than maximizing my effort.
Bouts: 1:37, 1:46, 1:48, 1:44, 1:45, 1:48, 1:48, 1:46.
Memorial Park's track is not ideal, and the general users of the track do not seem to know basic track etiquette. A group of five people literally stopped in the middle of the track to have a conversation for no less than five minutes; some people were walking clockwise against the flow of traffic; and several individuals were walking in what would be lane 3 or 4 if there were markers, making it difficult to use lane 1 or pass them while social distancing. I came across two other tracks on my way to Memorial Park. Upper College Canada's (high school) track is excellent, but it unfortunately has some equipment blocking a substantial chunk of the oval. It's only 600m from my apartment, so I hope it becomes open. Forest Hill Public School has an odd curiosity: an outdoor, 200m track. I'm estimating the distance based on my 1:04 split cruising around it. It was open to the public, but running on a 200m track does not really appeal.