Spring Track & Field in Alaska Can Mean Shoveling The Track!

I grew up in Alaska and loved running track and field during junior high and high school. Since spring seems to come a bit late in the westernmost and northernmost U.S. state, my track team often ushered in the first day of track season by having to shovel the track! The coach would arrive at the track in his truck with shovels piled in the back, and the first day of practice would be a shoulder/back workout as we shoveled the lanes of the quarter-mile track.

If you've never shoveled a track before, I can tell you -- it's quite a workout! The important thing is to not scrape all the way down to the track surface, or you can damage the track. It's best to shovel down to where you leave just a little snow on the surface, and then let that melt off on a day with some sunshine. Also, it's not a good idea to try and run in spikes on the shoveled track because the surface will still be firm and frozen. Just wear running shoes after shoveling.

Before you grab a shovel and head to your local track for a quarter-mile back-breaking workout, make sure you have permission of the school, college or institution to which the track belongs. If they give you the green light, then go for it! Just be sure to use a shovel that doesn't have a metal edge on the blade and don't press a corner of the shovel into the track's surface. Remember, leave a little snow and don't scrape all the way down to the surface. Also, shovels with an ergonomic handle (curved) are easier on your back... especially when going a quarter mile!

I invite you to take one minute (literally) and watch a video of a high school runner who shoveled a track so that he could run on it rather than a treadmill.



Happy shoveling runners!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past