~7.6+ miles @ ~9.8 min/mi

In Austin Texas visiting my parents, I climb the traditional ladder on the 800m track at LBJ High School: 1+2+3+4+3+2+1 lap sets at ~8 min/mi pace with half a lap (~2 min) recovery walk between each. I start at ~6:30am with a 1.7 mile jog from my Mother's house. Swallows and swifts flit above. At the track the sun rises as a diesel semi warms its engine for half an hour before pulling away with its load of pipes. Three ladies, one African-American and two Latinas, walk laps. "How many more do you have to go?" I ask as I pass one. "Ten—this is the last!" she replies. "My last too!" I pant. Nipple abraison on my sweat-soaked t-shirt awards me a red badge and a painful shower afterwards. Splits from the GPS for the ladder = 1:51 + 3:50 + 5:44 + 7:51 + 5:54 + 3:51 + 1:49.

(cf. past ladders 2006-07-15 - Final Texas Heatwork (9:20 mile) and 2009-08-10 - Beep, Beep, Beep, ... (8:22 mile) ...) - ^z - 2010-07-26