Notes
Conference's 10k. I think this was the hardest race I have ever ran mentally, second maybe only to All Ohio sophomore year. I went into it trying to be confident, but somewhat worried. I started off on pace for a few laps, but by around lap three my calves had fully locked up/blown up and I felt like I had in the 5k last week, it was awful. I, of course, was immediately dropped by everyone and left on my own. It took probably every bit of willpower I had to not step off the track. I think I almost stopped like 6-8 times, my body making the move to step off the track but my mind pulling me back in. I am glad I stuck with it, though. I don't remember how long it took, but maybe around halfway my calves just sorta loosened back up and I was able to maintain at around 94 or something like that (I'm just now remembering how I tried to take splits each lap but obviously that went awry). Then, though, I think around the time the calf pain was receding, I started noticing a bit of a stitch like feeling in the center of my chest, which gradually became a full on side stitch. That nearly got me too, as I could barely keep moving without practically yelling out loud. Around here I dropped back to around 100 seconds, which sucked. I tried to keep in it, and it seemed like for a moment the stitch faded away. Unfortunately, though, for the latter half of the race, the stitch would come back and then recede, slowly moving down my chest slightly to the right. I got lapped like 4 times I think by the lead guys. It was pretty annoying that people were pity cheering me and even the people passing me were saying good job, but I guess also it was nice. I closed the race in an 80, so I definitely was not running as best as I could, but I only ran like 17 (lol I thought my PR was 39:18 but it is 39:13) seconds slower than my freshman year time.
It probably sounds like I am disappointed and, to a certain extent, of course I am––but really I am glad I raced and I am glad I stuck it out. Obviously I would have liked to perform better, but I don't think my time as a runner has been primarily about the times but more about getting out there with the team. For that reason I am happy, because I know I would have felt a lot worse had I not run or had I stopped. I guess this is the end, then. I am not sure I'll upload to this account anymore, but I will definitely keep it up. My time as runner here has had its ups and its downs in terms of times and fitness, and I've never been all that good, but what does that matter when it let me make all the friends I have now? I wouldn't trade that for the world. But now I am getting all sappy, so I'll stop there.