Notes
Preparation for this meet included Chapman telling us that we could bring home a trophy, which to be honest, I didn't truly believe. Up until I passed Chapman near the finishing turn on the first loop when he told me that we were in third place, I just didn't believe it. Same thing with my goal of being an all-American, I didn't truly believe I could do it. I kept trying to fake it until I made it, and that is not how you do it. Everyone but myself knew what I was capable of. The gun went off and after the first turn I found myself in the top 20, and I put the brakes on, which is dumb because the first 100 guys run similar paces just in different spots. I could have just stayed where I positioned myself, ran the exact same race and finished around where Sam ended up. Instead, I panicked, put the brakes on, and then settled in. I raced in the top 50, and was in about 33 going into the last K. The last 800 meters I was giving it all I had, but I had already shot myself in the foot by being super tight in the arms for half the race. I just kept telling myself "go faster, don't slow down" and then a herd of 4 guys passed me and I finished in 41st. I gave it everything I had. I could do nothing but all down and lay still. The lady there kept telling me to get up but I couldn't move, my body and brain were fried. I used up every ounce of energy had. Watching the video board for my name, I knew I wasn't in the top 40, but I watched my name not show up anyways. Then it was on to the team scores. They had finishing fourth place! I didn't even care about my finish then it was just all about the team. We did it. We took home a trophy. Everybody was letting all of their emotions out. I told myself that I wasn't going to cry or tear up or anything like that, but when I saw Eli I lost it. I knew that he had worked so hard and would give anything to be running with us on this team. We were in a huddle and Caleb prayed. After that we huddled up with Chapman and Spitz. Chapman said something like, "Men we did it, we are going to take our trophy back to Waverly, and we are going to run on Bremer." Then moments later Haverford's score came bumped us down, by 14 stinking points! My first reaction was anger at the NCAA for doing that to us, then I just accepted the fact that they beat us fair and square. On to the bus ride to the awards. Sitting there at the awards when the All-American men got called to sit in the chairs, I felt like there must've something more that I could've done, I belong there. I will never not be in that group of men again.
After the race talking to Chapman he brought into the light the fact that, who gives a rip about 40th? He's right. Nobody remembers who got 40th place from a race 10 years ago. I want to be better than 40th, I am capable of it.
I will say that year my goal immediately after the national meet last year was top 100. And then going into the summer it was all-American. I won't say what my goal is next year, (because I haven't truly thought about it quite yet) but isn't going to be small. As far as team goals go, I want to win the national meet, and we know exactly how we have to do it. We can't start thinking about this in August next year at camp, this must be thought of everyday from now until The Saturday before Thanksgiving next year. Everything we do is building towards that national title. During the track we without a doubt have goals and work towards those goals, but forever in the back of my head will be the goal of winning the national meet.