I have to thank Caitlin for telling us about the Cornell Horse Track. I love this place!! If you want to run fast it’s not the place to go, true. But you can’t ask for a more bucolic setting. As I loped around the dirt track, for a while a Killdeer ran along next to me, with horses nearby and the faint smell of horse manure.
Stopped by the Coal Yard Cafe for a Sloppy Jalopy (crazy good, with falafel inside) sandwich with their home-made chips… mmmm
I haven’t tried to race a mile since New Years Eve when I did one last effort on the East Hill rec trail for the 2021 FLRC Challenge. The Cornell track is nearby, but I’ve been intimidated to run on it-- I worried it might be busy with speedy college athletes, or that I’d be kicked off for some reason, or I’d get a parking ticket, or that I’d get too dizzy trying to run fast. I decided to try it today after a weekend of no running and too many hours sitting and driving. I’m happy to report that the parking was easy, the track was open and totally empty (around 11am) except for one super speedy guy, nobody kicked me off, I didn’t feel dizzy, and there was even a portapotty conveniently located right there. I only did a 3-lap warmup, a single mile, and a quick cooldown, but it felt good to run on the track!
And that speedy 6:28 puts @MWoods into the lead in the Sweet 1600 for now, but I have a feeling that @mdoruska3 might go after it again.
I run on the Cornell track quite often, mostly around lunch, and it seldom has anyone on it around then. I don’t know exactly when the Cornell team practices, but it’s probably in the late afternoon or early evening. And besides, their season will be over in just a few weeks. (In other words, don’t feel intimidated—if it’s in use, just go run Beebe Lake instead.)
Today was supposed to be an easy day, but I was so upset waking up to the news about the Supreme Court eviscerating Roe and Casey that I decided to take it out on the track. Running has always made me feel alive and strong, despite whatever *%#+ is going on in the world. So, I knocked 31 seconds off last week’s time (a feat I don’t expect to replicate regularly!) and got myself in a better place to head into work. I’m still feeling the effects of an illness (quite possibly Covid) a month ago that has my heart rate elevated at my usual paces, so I’m easing back in. Cornell’s track was a bit slippery again this morning, thanks to some spring rain, but there were only 2 other folks on it running 400s. A nice, peaceful place to process injustice and plot smashing the patriarchy.
Ran by the track on my recovery run, so I figured I might as well trudge a few laps. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to smell that smell and not get taken back to my racing days. For the longest time, I could never understand the beginning/end of Once A Runner (spoiler alert) why he gave it all up, but now I do.
stopped by the Lansing track to run the mile, it was open but almost deserted with the exception of a guy practicing his long jump
stopped into the Ithaca Agway to buy more bug spray, and to gawk at the bewildering assortment of plants. lots of people there!
my wanderings then took me over Greenstar, where the vegetables called to me
I ran over to the horse track on my way to school pickup…the sun was fierce, and the track was recently raked, so it felt like running on a dry beach 
– unfortunately, I was a little behind schedule so no time to stay and watch the horses, but I did run a negative split in order to make it to school by 2:00!
stopped by Ithaca Bakery and picked up some sour dough bread
Ran 1600 on dirt track at Green Lake in Seattle, WA. Nice cool morning, not those tropical Ithaca temps. Great place to run, lots of company and nice scenery.
Woo—our first seriously remote track! @tonya-engst and I hope to find some tracks in Vancouver in a few weeks for some international points.
stopped by Greenstar to stock up on coffee beans!
Wet more than sweet 1600 for me today 
I might be back in better conditions to chase a better time but I have to say it was quite fun to run under the thunderstorm! FYI the Kane outdoor track at Cornell is available daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., if people still need to complete this course.
I’m afraid this challenge is turning sweet rule-abiding me into a bit of a miscreant. First crossing a river in a clearly forbidden fashion and now squeezing through a padlocked gate to run on a coveted track. What’s next? I circled the Cornell track twice trying to find the way in. I knew there was a way as there were two other people inside. But all the gates were locked. I remembered reading other people’s accounts so decided the only way in was to squeeze. I worried I might damage my glasses in the attempt but apparently my brain is not as big as I might hope and the pass through was easy enough.
The run, on the other had was anything but easy. I clearly miss the slight down hill of the East Hill Rec Way from last year’s challenge which clearly gave me a false impression of my speediness. I gave it my all but could only muster a 6:40. Maybe the mile and a half run over to the track wasn’t enough warm-up? Maybe I’m still not recovered from Lick Brook? Maybe this is just my limit.
I couldn’t muster another go so instead decided to run back to the Beebe course for a soothing consolation jog on my home turf.
Ran 2 miles on the Cornell Track today trying to work on my Cadence (insert big sigh).
The gates were open at Noon by the scoreboard for those looking for a way in.
I got to run one of the tracks at Syracuse University this evening while my daughter was at hockey practice. Nice way to get some miles in instead of sitting in a cold rink.
We picked up some sandwiches from Collegetown Bagels before we made the drive up to Syracuse. My daughter enjoyed hers before practice and I had a nice quiet dinner after my run.
Ran down to Cornell as part of my 7 miler this morning – wanted to get my run in early, since it’s gonna be another scorcher…I was aiming for 6:40, ended up with a 6:46 (1:38, 1:46, 1:46, 1:36), so nothing to complain about, but 3 miles to the track was too long of a “warmup” for an attempt at a quick-ish mile, so I think next time I’ll drive to a track and warmup/cooldown there.
I decided to knock another course off my list and hit the track at Cornell this morning. Track running isn’t my favorite, but I got it done. I then headed to the Beebe Lake Course for a few more miles. It’s nice to have THREE courses near my office, and this year one is NOT a half marathon!! 
