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Federation

November 19, 2016 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: Perfect

Comments:
Started the day off not thinking I was going to race, but I still ate well and didn't do anything crazy. Then Neil started throwing up. I didn't think anything of it, just some pre-race nerves, but it just got worse for him. I did the shakeout run with the boiz, still thinking that I wasn't going to run. Then, later it became clear that Neil was feeling awful and was not going to get better. Jake told me that I was racing, and so I got Neil's uniform and hurriedly started preparing. However, I was ready, I had everything I needed and I had been mentally preparing myself for this situation. This preparation definitely helped me. After doing the warmup, we got to the line and did a lot of drills and strides. I was ready. The gun went off and I started off at a great pace, right behind Ben. However, there were a lot of people so I got boxed in and I couldn't follow Ben, but I am pretty sure I was close to him. I went up the first hills really well, and I was feeling pretty good, I was right where I wanted to be. Going up the end of the hill I was completely dying, and I had no idea how I was going to finish. However, I pushed through and kept going. Going down the hills was a relief, but that didn't last for long. At 1 mile to go, everything in my body was telling me to stop and walk, but I didn't. The last 400 I started to speed up, and by the last 200 I was going really hard. There was one kid who I almost passed but he sped up and got away before I could get too far past him. I crossed the line, and I was super dizzy and almost passed out, but a really nice racer helped me out. After sitting down for a bit in the tent, I got up and went back to cool down. I feel I could not have possibly raced harder, which was what I was aiming for. After my performance at sectionals, I had ended my season on a bad note. However, with this race I got a second chance to change the end of my season, and I seized it. Even though my time wasn't incredible, I feel like I raced very well. Overall a good race for only being told I was going to race 2 hours before it happened.

(After a night of thinking)

I started out too fast and died. I stayed very close to Ben for the first 1.5 miles, but could not stay with him for the rest of the race. I don't know whether this is physical or mental, but I do feel I started out too fast. This lead to my last mile being too slow, and being passed by a lot of people.


What I learned: I learned that even if I feel like I cannot go any further, I can, and I can kick at the end no matter what. However, I let too many people pass me after the 2 mile mark. That was cooking time, and I just felt like I couldn't do it. The thing is, I probably could have. I needed to keep up with the people passing me, and not let anyone else pass me. That said, I learned a lot this race about having energy left, and pushing through pain. I reached the level of hurt I usually get at the end of a race at mile 2 of this race. In the races prior, I thought I would not be able to go any farther, but this race clearly showed that I could have. What I am trying (and failing) to say is that I pushed myself harder than I ever have in this race, and it shows me what was possible in the previous races, and what is possible in the future. Also, there were a couple things that I needed to do but didn't. I needed to take the downhills faster, not go out so hard, and crest the top hill. Most importantly, I cannot slow down on the last mile. That mile is so important, I really have to dig deep and give it my all.

Regularly this would be a 7 but because I was given such short notice I give it a 7.5.