Notes
Pre Nats at Principia College. Felt pretty decent for most of the race. Got out in good position and tailed off the back end of the front pack. My mind felt relaxed the whole time and breathing was fairly good. Moved up into 3rd or 4th at 5k and thought about taking the lead and hammering the last 3k but I decided to be patient and of course the race picked up. This is when I really needed to just go with the punches. My stride started getting shorter and Sam and I were still pretty close. Next time I feel good like that I’m gonna take the lead and test some guys. There’s a ton for me to work on. A ton. Today’s race was all-American caliber I think but I know there is a lot more in there. I had too much left for my kick I think. Instead of going from like 5 min pace to 4:30 pace all in a split second for my kick, I need to get better at gradually dropping down the pace with 2k to go. I really got to close better. I can’t let those guys put such a big gap on me like that. It won’t happen again. As a team we raced how we the nation thought we would, not how we know we can. We had an opportunity and let it slip. Our race plan could have gotten us 5th today. We need to continue to believe in our training. Believe that we can beat people who have beaten us before. Today we looked like we didn’t believe that we were good. Our packs need to finish closer together. I’m not trying to be harsh. This isn’t the girls team. I’m saying what I truly think we need to work on. Ask yourself l, do you really believe that you can do it? Because you should. (P.s. all of this talk is also directed at myself) I need to believe more. And I still have aspirations to beat those guys who beat me today.