Big ideas

Oh, the trials and tribulations of trying to run a track program as the perpetual “visiting team” … OK. Let’s go back a bit. The past few weeks, we have been lucky enough to train at the Vassar track, where all the snow had melted. It was great to get back on our home away from home. But then last Friday, we got snow and sleet and ice, and that winter reverie of outdoor track practices appeared to be doomed to waiting till after spring break. But then on Sunday, we learned from various sources that our friend James McCowan (one of the Vassar track coaches) and his team were out on their track, shoveling snow and ice off the first two lanes. Yay! We can, indeed, get back on the track. And none too soon, with the IC4A Championships coming up, we wanted our men to get some final, tune-up speed work. The plan was in place to go there on Tuesday morning for practice, despite the chilly and cloudy weather. Then, Coach Terry Horton called. He was checking on the condition of the track on his way into Marist. It was icy and slick. The snow on the outside lanes of the track had melted and refreezed, leaving the track a slippery mess. Time for Plan B! That would be … New Paltz, Big Blue Doughnut, one more time on that indoor track across the river.
 
Upon arrival at SUNY New Paltz and exiting the vans, the men instead made a beeline for the Bigger Blue Oval – the New Paltz outdoor track. They would much rather have been outside. A quick inspection of the Bigger Blue Oval revealed that it was indeed runnable, but there was snow and ice on each endzone curve in the first 2-3 lanes. Hmmm. This proved to be a dilemma. How do you do intervals this way, zigzagging in and out like a Formula One driver? It was determined that the annoyance of slightly longer interval lengths was worth avoiding the Big Blue Doughnut inside. For most guys. Four guys opted for the indoor option, which I gladly obliged them (I had the key to the indoor track, plus it’s warmer and there’s a bathroom). But first! One of the guys going inside asked (for no apparent reason, since he was, in fact, GOING INSIDE for his workout) what effect the snow and ice on the turns of the outdoor track would have on the measurement of that day’s prescribed intervals. Already agitated from the day’s events, I exploded in mild annoyance that bordered on mock anger and blurted out: “How the (bleep) would I know, what do I look like, friggin’ Copernicus?!” For a team very much used to my usual “banter,” this was a particularly unique rant. Or, as Sween said, “Wow, Pete, that’s one of your better ones!” Neat! Side note: I have no idea why the name of a 16th-century polymath popped into my feeble brain.
 
As I quickly calmed down during the walk inside, this same Fine Young Man who asked the Copernican question posed another (well-worn) gem for me: “Coach, if you had the choice, which would you prefer (at Marist), an indoor or an outdoor track?” I’ve heard this question only, oh, about 156 times. While I gave the merits of either option, stating clearly that I would take whatever we would get, he came up with a truly original, absurd thought – ranking right up there in the annals of past “good ideas” from well-meaning if warped past team members … like “commuting” to New Paltz via helicopter, or that truly original thought of a “floating track” on the Hudson River! Anyway, this Fine Young Man suggested a combo indoor-outdoor, 400-meter track. With a retractable roof! Yes. A retractable roof. You know, he said, so on a nice day, we could open the roof and let the sunshine in. Oh. Yes. Wonderful idea! Like SoFi Stadium (which hosted the SUPER BOWL) or whatever, right? At Marist! For track! This is brilliant! Oh. Wait. What’s the precedent? How many of these hybrid indoor/outdoor facilities exist? As far as we know! NONE! Ah yes. All in a day’s work …