Running the track..

Well the time finally came that a whole lotta bad weather came in and stayed in, no chance to move the schedule around in order to run outside instead of on the treadmill. So while Felicity ran her 12km in sunny Victoria, Crystal and I worked convincing ourselves to get off of our respective couches and go run the track at Mt. Royal University’s indoor track, another running first for us. With temps falling to -28 with the windchill it was our only real option.

We arrived at Mt Royal, paid our $10.78 (yes, paid to run the track), got out of our layers of warm clothes, made our way past the guy doing the grapevine up and down the stairs (seriously impossible if you want to try) and found ourselves in front of the “How to” board. Now before we even got to Mt Royal, Crystal had done the math, 200m x 60laps = 12km, right? **(we’ll come back to this later..)

Ok, so here’s how our run went..

Laps 1- 4 “How are we ever going to remember what lap we’re on when we have to do 60, I lose count running hills and stop one short?” “Let’s remember that when ever Christi is on the inside it’s an odd lap and when Crystal is in the inside it’s an even lap, oh and let’s switch every lap to make it easier”

Laps 5-17ish.. “Uh, heh, remember how the outside lane is 228m, well that would mean we don’t have to run 60laps, definitely less, right?” “ok, soooo… if 60laps at 200m is 12km, how many laps do we have to run?” silence… “Uh, well what if we figured it out at 225, it’ll be easier” silence… “Uh, well 4 laps would actually be 4 and a half, right” “Yup, right” .. silence.. “Sooo.. what does that mean?” … silence “Umm.. I’m really good at math on paper…” silence.. “Well using simple math and our fingers.. every 4 actually being 4 ½ .. sooo 9 + 9 +9.. so 54 laps would be right?” “Let’s do 54 then figure it out on our phones later”

Laps 20-22 “Well now that, that is sorted out.. So glad to be here” “Sure wish we could have run outside like Felicity did” “Yeah, we were talking about flying somewhere for a long run.. why haven’t we done that?” “I guess it hasn’t been that cold yet” “We’ll still have to go to the Pannenkoek Haus next Sunday” “I have to work, I can’t do next Sunday L” “Definitely the weekend after!” “Definitely!”

Laps 23-30 Random conversation about anything and everything.. all VERY important subjects mind you, work, friends, the Princess Run, etc

Laps 31-35 “Hey, that guy is running the wrong way!” “Seriously, why is he doing that” “Hey, that guy is talking to the Mt Royal guy about direction, what is he thinking?” “Wait, are WE running the wrong way?” “Most indoor tracks have some sort of sign telling you which way to run?” **(see reference 2^nd paragraph) “Maybe let’s take a big detour and read that sign again” “Nope we’re right.. Sundays are clockwise.. thank God!”

Laps 36-42 Then more random conversations like Victoria Beckham's pregnancy “Victoria Beckham is pregnant?!" “Ya! Crazy!” “that’s 42 right?” “No I think she is like 35 or something?” “35 laps? I thought we were on 42??” “YA! No, SHE is 35 years old, WE’RE on lap 42. right??” "Right!"

Laps 43-45 “This is waayyy better than a treadmill” “Yeah, but still not as great as winter running though” “Yeah, winter running your clothes get wet and summer/indoor running you just get gross and sweaty” “Yeah” “Hate all the sweat drying on my face and turning salty”

Laps 46-55 “Already done 45 laps” “Remember when we had like 50 left?” “46 laps!” “Was that 46 done or 46 when this lap is done?" “What was it last lap, 45 or 45 once we’re done?” “Let’s count down then?” “We only have 8

laps left” “We’re in the single digits now!!” “Only 7 more laps left”

“Have we sped up our pace?” “6 laps” “How long have we been running for” “Only 5 more laps..”“Hey that guy is running our direction again” “4laps!” “We’re almost done” “3 laps!” “Thank God” “2 laps.. only 2 laps” “Doesn’t really feel like we’ve been running that long” “LAST LAP” “Stretching then we’re outta here”

(photo - see speedy "wrong way" guy flying by in the yellow t-shirt)