14Mar2018 - Foxes and Hounds at Track

Foxes and Hounds is my favourite track session. It is hard but nice to all run together, and test yourself to return to the line each time. As usual, I arrived early to do a few laps of the track before the session started. As I ran, more and more people turned up and were congregating waiting for the announcement about Barcelona Marathon. I was feeling really anxious and just could not face talking to anyone. So I kept running, and running - and running fast so that no-one else on the track could talk to me as I ran. At the 300m mark on each lap after the first mile I though this will be the last, but as I approached the finish line, the anxiety set in and I just couldn't face people. So I did another lap. I stopped after 2 miles, 8 laps, when I heard clapping - the Barcelona Marathon finishers were being applauded. As much as I didn't want to stop, I also didn't want to be rude - so I did stop and applaud. Talking was really, really hard but I did for a few minutes, missing the warm up. I then started the track set and the pent up fear was so strong, I went straight to the front and hammered out a pretty fast 90 second run. I went further than I ever have done before in foxes and hounds, way past 300m mark. And I made it back to the starting position, surprisingly. It was hard but I felt I really needed to test myself and my ankle. I wasn't wearing a brace, and it felt ok. My shin was a little sore but nothing too bad. I did the next two slightly slower, but still over 300m and made it back, but my shin was starting to worsen. The next one I thought I'd go easier, but 50m in Wendy called to me to stay with her, so I did. Possibly the hardest I've ever run, certainly at foxes and hounds, and although we didn't make it fully around to the finish line, per Strava, we did 400m, in under 90 seconds, sub 6mm. My shin was really sore now so I couldn't get back to the finish line quite. I stepped off and stretched, missing a couple of rounds, and then re-joined for another 2 sets (slower) before calling it a day.

I was worried about whether I'd done damage but really wanted to test myself before physio in the morning. I was pleased with the pace of the 2 miles and of the first three sets of foxes and hounds - my speed is improving.

2 mile warm up


Foxes and Hounds - metric


Foxes and Hounds - imperial