Barefoot and on the Athletics Track – Condescension and tact..

Good afternoon.  A post a little out of whack, just like me!

So, given my increased speed gain with interval training that I went through on a 6 week course,  I decided to continue with this.

I meandered down to our local athletics track where this training is carried out on a weekly basis.

Hmmph.  I am weird….Or not?…Ok, so I suppose I was at an ATHLETIC STADIUM TRACK.  These are serious athletes committed to training…Various mixed groups use this tracks including veterans, field athletes, triathletes, professional athletes, wannabees..mommies running groups, and so on.  The group I was training with fits into the “serious athletes” category..

I arrived at the group late, mainly because I could not find them, and they had all been for their warm up.  So I had to head off on my own for a couple of quick rounds.  Then Coach says -okay every one change to your flats…  Umm, yes.  Well..I actually do not have any shoes, but do you like my red toe nails?  At this point I get some rather weird looks when others realise I am joining them.  I see a girl I recognise from a previous training group, who clearly remembers me, but instantly distances herself from that connection..sad face..

Ergo no one speaks to me for the whole session.  Until the very end when one friendly chap confirmed I was the Dale-Lyn registered for the 6 Inch Trail..  Yay, some one is not embarrassed..   Okay, I get it – you go against society norms you will get a reaction.  I am not hurt/disappointed/emotionally damaged and whatever other politically correct or emotively charged issue could be derived from this, other than a slight embarrassment at being slighted like that. Big girl sniff.

Now to the running.  On a track.  Covered in blue carpet.  (Astra?).  Very flat, very smooth, no traction… I need those barefoot soles described in any barefoot shoe experience advert…….Start off with a 10k average pace for a couple of laps, then up by 80% and down to 60% so on for usual interval.   Usual average 10k pace?  Yup, I was at the back of the pack, and my 60% average pace was tracked at 4:04 min per km.   My 80% at 3:25 min/km and my “average”  at 3;50 min/km.  W.O.W.. I was at the BACK of the pack.  The running club advert says – “All levels and paces catered for ”   Yuuup.  Sure..

This was my first attendance at a track training session.  Very uncomfortable, and probably not the place for a barefoot runner.  Two days later and I am still thinking about if I will return.  The track is too smooth.  Now I know why they say they need spikes to run on a track…I do not even have any shoes remotely fit for use on this.

By the way, the next day I thought I would try the same clubs group social road run.  Got there a few minutes earlier, recognised a couple of faces from Tuesdays efforts, got even more condescending dirty looks.  And I decided to leg it.  Went back to my car, and headed off to my usual Wednesday night run club.  Awesome, people know me, are comfortable with me, and just accept my barefeet for what they are.  Barefeet.