Indoor Running, Because It's Just Too Cold Outside
Many American runners have to deal with contrasting temperatures throughout the year, from sweltering heat in Arizona to bone chilling temperatures in New York winters. For those who live in moderate climates, the seasons are a welcome change, providing different conditions and refreshing variety, but for others weather is literally a show stopper. Minnesota is one of the coldest places in the US and outdoor running in winter is virtually impossible. Unless they were interested in pounding the treadmill, runners have had limited realistic winter options until now.
On Your Marks - Get Set - Zoom! Yah! Yah!
Dick Daymont is the Minnesotan man who created the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Marathon which is now run every January indoors in Minnesota. Competitors simply run 150 laps of a 282 meter track at a local college. The concept has raised some eyebrows and naturally some questions relating to how runners maintain their sanity during the race, but participation numbers are up. Zoom! Yah! Yah! is in its twelfth year and it isn’t the only indoor marathon of its kind in the country, although one could hardly call it a global winter trend.
Ups, Downs and Around
It is clearly a monotonous running event, but it gives competitors in prohibitively cold climates something to train for and compete in during the coldest of months. Although it has its downsides, indoor marathons do have some pluses. They are temperature controlled, there are no hill climbs, ample food and refreshments are available along with conveniently located toilets - all elements road marathons can sometimes be lacking for. The ability to control significant race variables has even led Nike to explore the possibility of designing a special indoor track for an interesting event planned for 2017 in which runners will attempt to break the two hour mark.
By the way, if you're wondering how indoor marathon runners keep from getting dizzy, in Zoom! Yah! Yah! they change direction every 30 minutes, they also each have a personal volunteer assigned to track their laps so that they can focus on the running and avoid getting distracted by counting.
By the way, if you're wondering how indoor marathon runners keep from getting dizzy, in Zoom! Yah! Yah! they change direction every 30 minutes, they also each have a personal volunteer assigned to track their laps so that they can focus on the running and avoid getting distracted by counting.
