SNOW problem

Today’s practice at the Vassar College track was excellent and spirited.

NICELY DONE to all the men and women, sprinters, mid distance and distance runners, for a great effort in less-than-great conditions.

OK. As warned, here comes the first spring weather rant of the season. First of many, I might add.

Unless your name is “Billy Hild” and you actually revel in cold and damp and snow, today was not a fun day to be outside for any length of time.

It was cold. It was damp. It was snowing. The turf was covered in snow. My hands and feet lost feeling. I went to the bathroom midway through the workout – not so much because I had to go, but more to use the hot air hand dryer to get some feeling back in my digits. It worked, for about 5 minutes.

Due to a “scheduling conflict,” our fancy McCann Indoor Track was not available as anticipated. No problemo, dudes. Pull the vans around, load up the cars, and go to Vassar. Just like we do every Wednesday in the spring.

We’re track. We’re tough.

Indeed we were today. One thing that made today more manageable was the conspicuous lack of wind. It’s ALWAYS windy at whatever track we go to – Vassar, Spackenkill, Arlington, you name it -- this time of year. Especially Arlington. Always. Today, the wind was light. Good thing, since it was 34 degrees with frozen precipitation pelting away at us.

Again, great effort from everyone. The ladies, especially, were out there FOREVER. Coach Chuck planned a particularly dastardly – and long – workout. It seemed to go on and on and on, but they were fast and strong to the end.

We had the entire spectrum: Distance boys doing 8x1k thresh and sprinters practicing 4x100 handoffs.

In the snow. In the cold.

Marist Track. We are tough. We DO WORK in any conditions.