The n lap barrier

One of the things I hate about running on a track is the monotony. Even back in high school when I was running track, the most I could manage was 4 or 5 laps around the 400 m track before I got so bored out of my skull I had to stop.

Still running on the somewhat smaller track at work, still doing the 6 laps (1 mile). It’s become much easier now than when I first started. Still sucking wind at the end of 6 laps, but recovering much faster. I’d probably be farther along if I was a little more consistent in my running.

Now my challenge is to break that 6 lap barrier, the point where my mind and body have become used to stopping. That mental and physical barrier can be a tough one to get past. When you’re first starting out, you can barely make the distance, and when you do it feels so good to stop. Then after your endurance has reached the point where you can make the distance without collapsing into a puddle of goo, you’ve become used to stopping at n laps. The legs shut down and Brain thinks “Ok, done! Finally!”. Running in 28°C+ weather doesn’t help things much either.

I’m ready to up my distance a bit now, so I think it’s time to get back on the road now and leave the track behind.