Notes
20:33 WU, 34:20 10k, 10:01 CD
I FEEL LIKE I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD! It's late and I'm amped up and excited for what I just ran and what there is to come. My first 5k was 17:16 and my second was 17:04! I am so happy with that negative split and with how this race played out. I placed 2nd overall, and I was literally smiling the entire first half of the race. Coach was calling out my splits from one end of the track, and my dad was calling them out from the other. After awhile, Coach stopped bothering with splits (goal pace was 84s, ended up averaging 82s) and instead kept yelling that I was doing tremendous (his word of choice) and I was going to break 35:00. A few laps later he said 34:45. Then 34:30. I just kept running and listening to splits and working with Nicole, the girl from Calvin who ended up beating me. I was so happy for her. She and I both came in with PRs in the 36s and we lapped most of the field twice. Our coaches were both instructing us to work cooperatively and share the job. Her coach would tell her to lead for a bit so I could sit on her and rest, and later Coach Drenth would instruct me to do the same. She and I were being cheered on by an entire stadium (which, on the final straightaway, chanted her school name), and we congratulated each other after the race. Her coach congratulated me sincerely after I ran over to my dad. He gave me a huge hug, one that belongs in the same sphere as one he gave me when I won Counties for the 3200m senior year. Well, at Counties he was so excited he dropped his water, but here I felt the same the same amount of pride through his gesture. My mom was there too, and I got swarmed by a ton my teammates (some of whom weren't even competing today and came up solely to see me run...and I thought no one would stick around!) and felt an overwhelming amount of energy and happiness. After the Spartan group hug, I went over to talk to Coach, who was also extremely proud. I have solidified a spot for Regionals and exceeded so many expectations. Teammates form both the guys' and girls' side keep congratulating me and genuinely asking about my race and how it felt and what I expected to run. Coach penned me from 35:00-35:30 and I came off a 36:30 PR. I now want to break 34 and I'm looking forward to Big Tens in two weeks!
Ended with 4 barefoot sprints on the turf and GS Simple Six 1x8.