Trial and error

As we continue to explore neighborhood loops for quality training days, in our never-ending quest to succeed in the post-McCann Track era, there will be several trial-and-error moments.

On Wednesday morning, the emphasis was on “error.”

I discovered an excellent (or so I thought) neighborhood loop in the south Hyde Park area in which we could do some hard 400-meter repeats with some hills interspersed. The 400-meter part I got down pat; I even wheeled it for accuracy.

The problem: The ups and downs contained a few dramatic “downs” that increased the pounding on our athletes’ legs. Most runners are not inclined to complain about downhill terrain, but this downhill terrain combined with the fast pace made for very unpleasant jarring.

So, we did what we always do: We changed on the fly. Adapt and conform. A quick recalibrating of the wheel, starting at the lowest point of the loop, and the 400-meter rolling workout turned into a 400-meter hill-repeat workout. All uphill. Very difficult, but very doable with more benefit and less downside to it.

Thanks for the few athletes that were there on Wednesday (remember, Finals Week means practice is optional), and thanks for their patience as they acted as de facto guinea pigs on the new neighborhood loop. As we continue in this New World, there will be more trial, and hopefully not as much error.