Notes
Really happy to end a frustrating outdoor season with this. Last week, the race was there and I didn’t trust my fitness. I will never do that again. This week, I told myself to put myself at the front and trust. I had a different win scenario played out in my head (me winning, haha) but still very pleased. It was a ton of fun to see, warm up with, and race with the Wartburg guys again. Felt really good clicking off paces but was also boxed in. Stayed relaxed though. Then with just under 5 laps to go, Chapman told me that they needed my help taking the lead and helping the pace. I knew if I sat longer, I would have felt great and probably closed faster with Caleb and Sam. Anyways, I took the lead and tried to pick it up, kept my shoulders relaxed. Got passed with 800 left, so attached to them. With 600 to go, Sam and caleb made a move, and so I tried to attach to them. Finished 3rd, Joe pulled up on me with 50 meters left and we finished close together. Closed in a 4:38 last mile which means Sam and Caleb were low 4:30’s. They put 5-6 seconds on my the last lap. I closed in 67, caleb in 61!
All in all, I know the fitness is there and felt really good not doing the leading. I had one of the Heidelberg coaches say “the Wartburg coaches guilted you into taking the pace?” Some people just don’t get it. Listen, I was super happy being able to help take the pace. When Chapman is counting on you to help the guys out mid race, you do it. That’s what alums do. I would do anything to help those guys race fast. It made me feel like I was a part of something again, helping the tradition of excellence that they are counting to establish. We went 1-4 on North Centrals home track. Yes, I wish those guys could have qualified, but I’m also just really proud of their fight and the statement they made. Going to take 5 days off by being a toad and then gonna get really fit again.