Tracking distance on an indoor track

[DonaldDuckFamily]

The weather is going to be getting cold and snowy soon and I'll have to move my training indoors. I am using the Jeff Galloway method to train for the Princess Half in 2014. I get bored easily on a treadmill so I was thinking of using the indoor track. But, I don't want to have to keep track of the number laps in my head because I will get distracted and lose count. I use Runkeeper when I run outside which I really like. Does anyone have some ideas of how to keep track while inside? Thanks!!

 

[Princess on the Run]

I could have written this post myself. I don't like treadmill running because it's not the same as running and indoor laps are hard to track (also a RunKeeper user). I have a stop watch app that has a lap counter on it. I try to figure out a start point on the indoor track and each time I pass that point, I tap the lap button. The only problem is forgetting, but it's the best I've come up with so far. I wish RunKeeper would work better on an indoor track but I think the location is just too tight for GPS to track it well.

 

[Raenstoirm]

If GPS works inside, your phone should be able to track your distance. If not, you can buy one of those click counters. Each lap just click.

 

[Tracerr00]

I was thinking about this too!! It's starting to get cold here as well and there is an indoor track at the local college that I'd like to start using. I've used it before but I have the same problem, I always seem to question my lap counts. Did I forget to count that last lap? Did I accidentally move ahead a lap when I wasn't supposed to? I use mapmyrun so maybe I'll do a test run inside and see if maybe it'll work inside. If not, I'll have to get a lap counter.

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. It rained all day so I had to move my run instead. I tried using runkeeper with GPS while on the track and it didn't work. There is no way I did 122 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes . I did count my laps, using my fingers and at some points was second guessing myself, but was really close to where I thought I'd be. I'll have to start looking into a counter.

 

[megny]

I use my Garmin Forerunner lap count capability. Only get confusing if I forget to hit it on a lap, then need to remember that I get to stop at an earlier lap count than the original count. Definitely better than treadmill-ing it.

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I have used a hand held counter. Just click each lap. Has loop to hold it and can be a pain but it keeps me honest.

I also know how long it should take me to run a particular distance, so sometimes I just start the timer on my Garmin and run for a particular length of time and say the heck with being completely accurate on distance. Figure it worked in days before GPS .

 

[Ariel484]

If GPS works inside, your phone should be able to track your distance. If not, you can buy one of those click counters. Each lap just click.

I've tried this with a GPS indoors and for me it doesn't work...I was going to suggest the lap clicker.

Our gym's indoor track is 14 laps/mile, and I actually got more bored with that than with the treadmill. I'm to the point where I'll only run indoors when there's lightning out or tons of ice...running in the snow really isn't so bad. The worst part for me was initially investing in warm weather running clothes, but I am still using the same stuff I bought 2 years ago so it was well worth it. I just seem to have way too short of an attention span to run inside!

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

I hear you Ariel - Ohio weather is not really wonderful for training for a January full or half. Just like you I get bored inside and only stay in during thunderstorms or icy conditions.

Hey we Ohio girls get it done anyway we can!

 

[Ariel484]

I hear you Ariel - Ohio weather is not really wonderful for training for a January full or half. Just like you I get bored inside and only stay in during thunderstorms or icy conditions.

Hey we Ohio girls get it done anyway we can!

Yeah we do! *high five*

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

I hear you Ariel - Ohio weather is not really wonderful for training for a January full or half. Just like you I get bored inside and only stay in during thunderstorms or icy conditions.

Hey we Ohio girls get it done anyway we can!

I'm from Wisconsin so I can totally relate to the wintery mix that comes from Dec - Feb. This summer was the first time I started running outside and I love it!!! I've gone out and invested in some warmer clothes to help on the cold days to come.

I want to participate in Princess Half in 2014 so I am going to have to learn to run in winter weather .

 

[lisah0711]

Another 4 season runner here!

I use the indoor track a lot for my long runs -- the longest run I've done on the indoor track was 15 miles in December getting ready for the Tinker Bell half.

I just count the laps for one mile at a time. My track is 12 laps for a mile. That works for the first couple of hours. If I feel comfortable that I can maintain my pace I will give myself an hour off of counting. That seems to help and since the time doesn't matter as much as the distance for these long runs if you are following Galloway -- "you can't do the long runs too slowly" -- it works.

The good news is that the indoor track helps your mental preparation a lot!

Good luck!

 

[threeboysmom]

Hey! Noticed your training for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon. I am too! Although you're WAY ahead of me. No way I could do over an hour of running right now.

Just doing intervals of jogging 3 minutes/walking 2 minutes for a total of 30 minutes and THAT is killing me, lol.

I do run on an indoor track with an interval timer (unfortunately it doesn't count laps for me). Like you, counting laps is a struggle. I've tried counting in my head, but easily get distracted ("am I on the 6th lap or the 7th?) I've tried using my fingers, but I don't like running with my fingers sticking out at all angles, lol.

I've thought of bringing something tiny with me like pennies or beans and dropping one each time I pass the starting line (or moving them from pocket to pocket), but most of my exercise pants don't have pockets, lol.

Another idea I've tossed around is a small chalkboard or wipeboard and I quickly mark a line as I pass by. But that would require me running with marker or chalk in my hand.

A clicker would be the best option, but I haven't taken the time to look online for one. Not even sure what kind of store to look in?

Anyways, not sure I'm helpful. Just letting you know I'm struggling with how to solve the problem of laps too....

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

Hey! Noticed your training for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon. I am too! Although you're WAY ahead of me. No way I could do over an hour of running right now.

Just doing intervals of jogging 3 minutes/walking 2 minutes for a total of 30 minutes and THAT is killing me, lol.

I do run on an indoor track with an interval timer (unfortunately it doesn't count laps for me). Like you, counting laps is a struggle. I've tried counting in my head, but easily get distracted ("am I on the 6th lap or the 7th?) I've tried using my fingers, but I don't like running with my fingers sticking out at all angles, lol.

I've thought of bringing something tiny with me like pennies or beans and dropping one each time I pass the starting line (or moving them from pocket to pocket), but most of my exercise pants don't have pockets, lol.

Another idea I've tossed around is a small chalkboard or wipeboard and I quickly mark a line as I pass by. But that would require me running with marker or chalk in my hand.

A clicker would be the best option, but I haven't taken the time to look online for one. Not even sure what kind of store to look in?

Anyways, not sure I'm helpful. Just letting you know I'm struggling with how to solve the problem of laps too....

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one with the issue of counting laps. This is my first year as a 4 season runner, so it is going to be interesting. I'm not too far ahead of you as far as training goes. I run/walk as you and I am at 2:15 run 4:00 walk. My goal is to move up the 2:30 in November sometime. By the time of the 1/2 marathon I want to be able to maintain around a 12 minute mile. I am around 13:10 right now. So I am not sure how my run/walk times will increase or decrease.

Here is another struggle I am having. Kind of embarassing but....I drink a lot of water during the day, all day. So about an hour into my run I have to go to the bathroom. But, If your out for a 8 mile run, do you plan a route with a place to stop? Do you make a pass by your house? Am I the only one with this issue ?

 

[minniebeth]

Another Ohioan... Training for the 1/2 in January. Went from training in the heat and humidity for the ToT to already windy and downright cold weather now. There are short windows of time throughout the days that are nice but have to hit it just right to work within a schedule that works.
Fun!

The indoor track that I use for winter weather is 13 laps/mi. Now that I'm used to higher mileage it's getting harder to do. But my method for counting is a little quirky but works for me. I can mentally keep track better than using a number, even when I get lost in thought or music.
Instead of counting I associate each lap with a word. After a gazillion laps you memorize the words and order. I try to keep that word in my mind so if I lose track it's easy for me to say oh, I just ran tiki (3) so now I'm on 4. It works for me...
I think I'll be investing in some warm weather clothes though because anything more than 4 or 5 on the track will drive me bonkers. I have a dreadmill but resist that too.

 

[Tracerr00]

I just did three miles at the indoor track last night because by the time I get off of work and pick up the kid and get home it's almost dark out now. It's 7 1/2 laps per mile in the "slow run" lane and I *think* I did ok counting laps but pretty sure I messed up somewhere. I tried the mapmyrun inside the building but it did not work so my method for counting was to touch my thumb to my pointer for lap one, thumb to index finger for lap 2, etc, not touch my thumb to anything for lap 5 and then start on the other hand. It worked ok but I think I still got distracted because these 4 young girls would run really fast and pass me, then they'd stop and walk and giggle and walk 4 across the lanes so I'd have to maneuver around them and say excuse me so they'd part. Sometimes they were literally stopped in the middle of the track when one of them had a good story. Anyway, it'll be getting cold soon here (I'm a WI person too) and while it's boring I'm going to need to move it inside because I'm such a freeze baby. I will need some more interesting things on my ipod! In 2013 I'd like to do the ToT 10 miler and in 2014 I'd like to do the Tinkerbell 1/2 and/or the Wine & Dine 1/2. For some reason it's not on this girl's bucket list to do a full marathon like most people!