Last Outdoor Track of 2025

ERA of WTF…joy and resistance

Today is the day. The last day of outdoor track at MIT. On my drive today the moon was my beacon. She was very bright in the cool darkness of the morning. My morning drive to track is so different than June/July when it was so bright with the sun shining and blue sky. This season I missed most of July because of International Travel. I remember the first day was a time trail for the mob mile and it was hotter than shit. It was oppressive in the morning. I remember thinking, because die in this weather, so why are we out here like fools. Oh runners.

Today, was not a time trial but lots of 200s, 8 total with 90sec breaks after each one. It was a good day to run. I did not need my knee compression and my knee felt good. This was a light track day with attendance. We were missing a couple of pacers. Still it was good to run with my Red team crew.

It’s an odd feeling because this week is the Chicago Marathon. This was the last hooray before the marathon. Yet, Chicago is being invaded by the government, by ICE. Black children were zip tied and homes were invaded and destroyed. This happened by mile 20 on the marathon route. The mayor of Chicago and Governor of Illinois is like Fuck you ICE and Orange monster.

I still wonder, what will this look like on Sunday. When 50,000 run this race. When black and brown runners descend on this space. When there are black folks apart of cheer squads to support the runners. What will all of this look like. I’m surprised that the black running communities aren’t saying or doing anything. Maybe it will come later.

For now, today, we do our last track run. Last time, for a while, I’ll get up on Tuesday morning for Track and make my way to MIT. I make sure now, that I do not teach on Tuesdays/Thursdays.

I’ll miss seeing the Red team, pacers, coach Dan, and all the crazy runners, running on the MIT track.

It’s been a good.