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Chantilly Experience

April 25, 2015 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Today was really fun. My race wasn't until five, so I got a fantastic twelve hours of sleep last night. Such a late race also meant that I hydrated well and spent a solid hour mentally preparing for my race. The hour was well needed, because I was super nervous, not only because my arms were still sore from wednesday lifting (and thursday PE strength), but also because of the intimidating results of last year's freshman mile. However, I relaxed significantly once I got there. The track was nice, there were a lot of new faces and new sights (especially when compared to the usual Potomac setting), and the weather, despite being raining/hailing, was a really nice and cool temperature. After watching both Grace and Abigail race fantastically in their freshman miles, I was, for the first time, more eager than nervous to race. After doing nice and spread out striders (I was in the third and final heat), which felt light and unprecedentedly quick, I had a nice talk with Anthony about how to approach my race. It was really nice knowing that I was among other relatively inexperienced runners, which meant that I wasn't outmatched in tactics or pacing knowledge by any amount. Mark had told me to try and go out in the first lap in 80-85, and see how I felt from there.

As soon as the race started, I was aggressive, and let the other runners pull me through in 76. It definitely helped to hear my name announced during the race; It just added to the unique, high level vibe of today that I hadn't experienced since cross country, and put a smile on my face. I felt surprisingly great, and despite slowing down a bit in the subsequent three laps, I definitely didn't hit a wall, just spiked at a different time than in my normal race. I was in a large pack for the first lap and a half, and as the gap started to widen between the first three runners and the rest, I had to decide whether to go or not. Recalling my complacency in previous races, I dug in and tried to accelerate, preventing myself from settling into a static mindset. Luckily, it worked, and I caught up and ran in a group of four for the next lap and a half. Starting the final lap, there was one runner about 5-10 meters ahead of my, and one right in front. I tried to accelerate with 400 meters left, (as opposed to my usual 200 kick), and despite speeding up, I was tentative to fully sprint, even though the third place runner was quickly making up lost ground. In the back straightaway, he passed me, and I was forced to break my stride as he cut into lane one. Giving up my spot right before the curve deflated me slightly, but I held onto his tail until, with around 120 meters left, he pulled away. I instantly turned my kick up a notch, but it was too late; I stayed parallel to him until the finish. Despite probably starting my full-out kick a bit late (or maybe I should have attempted to pull away going into the back straightaway), I'm ecstatic with my race, and today's unusual aggressiveness payed off. Not only did I surpass my 5:32 seed time (which was 8 seconds faster than my actual PR) and run a 5:15, which I didn't even consider reaching this year, but I let my instincts take over and didn't overanalyze my race. I just ran, and had a great time.

Didn't have time to do a long cool down after my race, but I got a nice stretch in when I got home. I'm sorry that I didn't get to see more races, but from what I hear, today went pretty well. Congratulations especially to Silas!