Cardozo Track Workout Frequently Asked Questions:
Where is the Cardozo High School Track?
For the purposes of putting it into your GPS, use: 1281 Florida Ave, NW, Washington, DC. The entrance to the track is at the cornier of Florida Ave NW and 13th St NW in Washington DC.
Do I have to be fast to attend the workouts?
No, the point is to get fast. Mark does request that you have a decent mileage base build up at first, since sometimes we cover a decent distance. You should be able to comfortably run for at least an hour (at whatever pace is comfortable for you).
What speed are most of the people who attend? I’m slow, will I be left behind?
There is a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and speeds in the people who attend the track workouts. All of the workouts are based on time, rather than distance, so you won’t be holding anyone up if you are slower, and you won’t have to wait if you are faster. Instead, faster people get to run farther and slower people don’t run as far.
I’m new. How will I fit in?
We have new people every week (at least when its warm out). Either way, every week we introduce ourselves to each other and share what we have been up to in terms of racing or what we are training for.
When do track workouts start for the year? When do they end?
They never end. We are out there year round, even in the snow.
How will I know if a track workout is cancelled? What if the weather is bad?
Track is only cancelled for really awful weather if the weather is really terrible check the DC Tri Wendensday Track + Winter Marathon Training Facebook Group
I hear you do hill repeats sometimes. When is this?
Hill Repeats are always the third Wednesday of the month. Meet at the Cardozo track as normal for Hill Repeat nights.
Where do I go when I get to the track?
You will find others putting their belongings down on the bleachers. Set your stuff down with the other triathlete-looking people and start warming up.
Is parking available?
There’s normal DC 2 hour street parking on the roads surrounding the track.
I don’t know anything about lactate threshold, VO2 max, or proper running form. I read the e-mail with the workout, and it makes no sense to me. How will I know what to do?
Every week Mark (or a substitute) will explain the workout at the track and make sure no one has any questions. Don’t worry if you don’t understand it; eventually, the jargon will make sense.
What if I forget the workout intervals in the middle of the workout?
Mark (or the person in charge that week) will keep the time throughout the workout, and will call out the times for each interval. All you have to do is run.
What should I bring to the track?
You should bring yourself, comfortable running attire, a watch, a heart rate monitor (if you have one, this is highly recommended, though not a requirement), water or sports drink (this IS required), running shoes that are less than 6 months or 500 miles old (get new ones if you need to), and you may want a towel and change of clothes for after, especially if it is cold outside.