The return of the Big Blue Doughnut

The team is back, and our indoor/outdoor track journey of the next four-plus months has begun in earnest. Our first meet of 2013 is Friday at the Armory, with the Gotham Cup. And for the second winter in a row, we have returned to our borrowed indoor track practice venue with our friends at SUNY New Paltz.

Last year, I called the track to the "Big Blue Doughnut" because of its color (obviously) and because of the circular shape of the track. There are virtually no straightaways on this track; constant turns. On Monday, our first practice at the Doughnut, several athletes had their first experience on the track. Everybody seemed to like it. Today (Tuesday), we will return with the middle- and long-distance crew, several of whom have been there before.

Because of the timing of the track's availability this year, we have multiple, staggered practice times. We are not complaining; rather, we are grateful for the ability to practice indoors every once in a while, something we lost two years ago with the elimination of our indoor track at the McCann Center gym (now the McCann Arena).